The Man Sweeping the Interpreter's Parlor c. 1820 - 1822

William Blake made *The Man Sweeping the Interpreter's Parlor* using etching, a printmaking technique in which acid is used to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. Look closely, and you'll see how Blake uses the etched lines to create a sense of depth and texture. The sweeping figure, possibly a devil, is rendered with strong, dark lines, giving him a powerful, muscular presence. The angel on the left, by contrast, is drawn with finer, more delicate lines, emphasizing her ethereal quality. The material effect achieved by the etching process adds to the thematic contrast between good and evil. Blake’s choice of etching is significant. Unlike painting, which was seen as a fine art, printmaking was more closely associated with craft and the production of books, though Blake used it in a highly individual, visionary way. The labor-intensive process reflects the hard work of both the sweeper in the image and the artist himself. By using this medium, Blake elevates the status of labor and challenges conventional hierarchies within the art world.