Enoch
Original title: Enoch
kurzbeschreibung
William Blake made this relief print, Henoch, around 1806–7 by modified lithography from a stone. It depicts the biblical Enoch surrounded by several nude figures in a classical manner.
Description
An old man with a long beard and flowing hair sits enthroned on a pedestal. To his left, two figures hold a book or parchment scroll; to his right, another figure carries a sheet of paper. Beneath the pedestal, two bent figures are arranged. Stylized trees and leaves close off the back. The layout feels symmetrical, and light falling from above accentuates the contours of the figures.
Context
Around 1806–7 Blake turned increasingly to biblical subjects and prophetic figures. Lithography was then a young technique, which he used in an adapted form as relief printing from a stone. This sheet belongs to a series of prints in which the artist explored religious and visionary themes.
Impact
The black-and-white reproduction gives the sheet a solemn, almost archaic presence. The symmetrical arrangement and strong contours draw attention to Enoch as the central figure and create a calm, contemplative mood.
Technique
The work was executed as a lithograph in relief printing from a stone. This modified process allowed Blake fine lines and nuanced shadow effects. The sheet exists in one state and measures 21.6 × 30.9 cm in the image area.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)