Illustration to Milton`s Paradise Lost 1808

Editor: Here we have William Blake’s "Illustration to Milton’s Paradise Lost" from 1808, crafted with ink and watercolor. I find the scene incredibly intense, almost claustrophobic. What sort of imagery and emotions do you see interwoven here? Curator: It’s fascinating how Blake captures Milton's vision. Notice the figures, how they are positioned. Do you perceive any repeated symbols that might underscore themes of captivity and defiance? Editor: The bars of the gate behind them are pretty hard to miss. The figures are chained in by those bars. But I am not sure how they work with the snake down below? Curator: The serpent and hellhounds lurking at their feet reference the perils guarding hell’s gates. These images build on classical concepts that underscore their emotional weight through Blake's visionary lens. Editor: So, he is drawing from mythology to amplify a religious text? Curator: Exactly. Think of Cerberus, but reshaped by Blake’s romantic imagination. But ask yourself why Milton or Blake chooses to depict them in such dynamic tension? Editor: Maybe the gatekeepers are in conflict. I thought they are allies initially. Now it seems like they want different things. Is it a reflection of the struggle in each of us? Curator: Indeed, their defiance, even in chains, hints at the complexities within temptation and rebellion, all charged with symbolic and psychological undertones. It's a powerful commentary, really. Editor: It gives me a lot to think about regarding the human condition and artistic interpretation. Blake made me discover new depths in a story that I have read multiple times before! Curator: The interplay of classical symbolism and romantic intensity is indeed compelling in Blake’s vision.