Dimensions: support: 425 x 539 mm
Copyright: NaN
Editor: So, this is William Blake's "Pity," and it’s at the Tate. The mood feels melancholic, almost ghostly, with figures that seem to float. How do you interpret this work? Curator: For me, "Pity" embodies Blake's visionary approach. It's as if he's peering into the soul, isn't it? The ethereal figures, the swirling forms... it's not just about sorrow. There's a defiance there, a wrestling with the sublime. It reminds me of a dreamscape where pain and hope are intertwined. What do you think of the use of light? Editor: It's striking how the light illuminates the figures against the dark background, creating a sense of drama. I hadn’t considered the element of defiance before. Curator: Exactly! Blake wasn't one for passive acceptance. He used pity, and all these emotions, as a launchpad for something greater. It makes me think about how we can find beauty, even in the face of sorrow.
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This picture is based on the playwright William Shakespeare’s imagery in Macbeth. The play describes: ‘pity, like a naked newborn babe / Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin horsed / Upon the sightless couriers of the air, / Shall blow the horrid deed in ev’ry eye’. Blake’s visualisation of ‘pity’ takes Shakespeare’s words literally. Underneath the floating figures representing ‘pity’, Blake has included a young woman lying on the ground, her hands clasped as though in prayer. She may represent the infant’s mother, or someone influenced by pity. Gallery label, October 2023
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