First Book of Urizen pl. 17 c. 1796 - 1818

Editor: This is William Blake's "First Book of Urizen, pl. 17," from around 1794, part of the Tate Collection. It depicts two figures in a very strange, almost painful-looking scene. What symbolic meaning do you see in their poses and relationship? Curator: The figures, locked in distinct postures of suffering, echo Blake's broader mythology. Notice the embryonic pose of the right figure versus the contorted reaching of the left; might these represent states of being, entrapment versus aspiration? Editor: That's insightful! I hadn't considered their poses as symbolic of internal states. Curator: Blake uses the body as a container for emotional and spiritual experience. The surrounding darkness further amplifies the sense of isolation and struggle. Perhaps Blake reflects on psychological conflicts. Editor: Seeing it that way gives me a new perspective. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Blake’s images ask us to consider the weight of our inherited symbols.