Dimensions image: 197 x 152 mm
Editor: This is William Blake's "Job's Evil Dreams," an engraving. It feels claustrophobic, with Job trapped in bed, surrounded by grotesque figures. What do you see in this piece, considering its historical context? Curator: Blake critiqued the societal and religious institutions of his time. This image, part of a series on the Book of Job, reflects that. Notice how Satan is portrayed—not as the traditionally monstrous figure, but as an Angel of Light. What does that suggest about Blake's view of religious authority? Editor: Maybe he's showing how easily good can be twisted into evil by those in power? Curator: Precisely. Blake saw institutions as potentially corrupting forces. This image challenges viewers to question accepted narratives and to consider the subjective nature of truth and divine justice. Editor: It really makes you think about who defines good and evil, and how power shapes those definitions.
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Blake adapts as his main title words from verse 14 of chapter 7 of the Book of Job: 'Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions'. The substance of Job's dreams is not described in chapter 7. However, Blake derives some of his imagery and his quotations in the margins from elsewhere in the Bible. Thus 'my skin is black upon me and my bones are burned with heat' comes from the Book of Job, chapter 30. Satan, seen here hovering over Job, is described in the second book of Corinthians as 'transformed into an Angel of Light.' The flames of Hell which rise up from beneath Job's bed are echoed in the marginal design. Gallery label, August 1993
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