Nebuchadnezzar 1795

William Blake’s "Nebuchadnezzar" depicts the Babylonian king reduced to a beast, crawling on all fours. Blake's work is from around 1795, made with watercolor and graphite. Nebuchadnezzar, driven mad by divine decree, embodies a potent symbol of the consequences of pride and the fragility of human power. This motif echoes through history, from the Minotaur of ancient Crete to the werewolf legends of medieval Europe; all are representations of the beast lurking within humanity. Consider the posture—the hunched back, the downward gaze—it's a primal scene of shame and degradation, reminiscent of depictions of fallen angels or even Adam after the expulsion. The image taps into a deep, almost subconscious fear of losing our humanity, of succumbing to our basest instincts. Like a recurring nightmare, this theme resurfaces across cultures, a testament to the enduring human struggle with hubris and the animalistic aspects of our nature.