"I am young and ye are very old," 18th-19th century

Editor: This engraving by William Blake, titled "I am young and ye are very old," presents a stark contrast in its figures. I'm immediately drawn to the materiality of the print itself. What do you see in the making of this work? Curator: Considering Blake's relief etching process, we see a revolutionary approach. He challenged the traditional division between art and craft, controlling every stage from conception to production. How does the text interplay with the images here? Editor: The etched text frames the image, adding to its depth. Blake seemed to take a hands-on approach to create both image and writing. Curator: Exactly! Blake critiqued the industrializing print culture by reasserting the artist's labor. The print challenges notions of mass production. What's your impression now? Editor: I didn't consider the critique of industrialization, but it makes sense that Blake's process mirrors his message.