Songs of Innocence: The Little Black Boy 1789 - 1825

William Blake etched and painted “The Little Black Boy,” to illustrate his “Songs of Innocence.” Here, beneath a sheltering tree, a Black mother shares wisdom with her child as the sun rises. The sun, a recurring motif, symbolizes divine love and enlightenment. Yet, we’ve seen the sun in ancient Egyptian art representing the journey of the soul, and in Mithraic mysteries as a symbol of invincibility. Blake’s image evokes both spiritual awakening and the historical weight of racial identity. The sheltering tree and mother-child embrace echo the Christian iconography of the Madonna and Child, yet it subverts expectations by portraying a Black family. This symbol of nurturing and protection is an archetype deeply embedded in our collective psyche, representing maternal love. Blake uses these familiar visual languages to challenge viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about innocence, experience, and the complexities of human existence. The motifs are not static but evolve, reflecting the continuous reinterpretation of cultural symbols through the lens of personal and collective experience.