Procession of Monks, met by Three Women c. 1775 - 1780

Curator: Here we have William Blake's "Procession of Monks, met by Three Women," a pencil sketch now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a whisper of a drawing, all ethereal lines and figures emerging from the paper's surface. Curator: Blake, deeply invested in social critique, likely uses this encounter as a symbolic commentary on institutional religion's interactions with the feminine. Editor: I wonder, are they welcoming the monks, or standing in opposition? There's a tension, almost a standoff, hinted at in their body language. Curator: Exactly. Gender dynamics, particularly the subjugation of women, was a frequent theme in Blake's work. We can consider how the monks, representing established power, are confronted by the women. Editor: It's amazing how such simple lines can suggest so much about power, gender, and maybe even a bit of defiance. It's like catching a glimpse of a dream. Curator: Precisely, and by situating it within the context of Blake's broader oeuvre and the socio-political climate of his time, we start to see the depth of its message. Editor: I am left with a feeling of hushed anticipation, like something important is about to happen just beyond the edge of the drawing.