Dimensions: support: 372 x 528 mm
Copyright: NaN
Editor: This watercolor artwork, "Cerberus" by William Blake, showcases the multi-headed dog of Greek mythology. The creature appears to guard a gate, perhaps to hell. What sociopolitical statement might Blake be making with this piece? Curator: Blake was deeply invested in critiquing power structures. Cerberus, in this context, becomes more than a mythological beast. He is a symbol of oppressive authority, guarding not just a gate, but also the boundaries of social control. Editor: Control by whom, exactly? Curator: Think about the time. Blake critiqued the monarchy and the church. Cerberus could embody these institutions and their self-serving gatekeeping that denied power to ordinary people. What do you think? Editor: That makes sense. He's using myth to talk about the inequalities of his day. Thanks for the insight. Curator: Indeed. Art allows us to have these critical discussions across history.
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Cerberus, the terrifying three-headed monster, guards the circle of Hell where gluttons are punished. Blake drew this design with charcoal as well as pencil and, later, pen and ink. The distant flames of Hell are contrasts of deep red vermilion, a brownish-pink lake pigment that is probably brazilwood, and yellow gamboge. Brazilwood was one of the cheaper and less popular red/pink lake colours. Blake was always careful not to overlay colours or drawing media. This served him in good stead here because, as he undoubtedly knew, charcoal tends to absorb a lot of colour from red lakes. Gallery label, September 2004
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