Dante Striking Against Bocca degli Abati Possibly 1826 - 1968

Editor: This is William Blake's "Dante Striking Against Bocca degli Abati." The stark lines create a really unsettling feeling, and the figures seem trapped. What compositional elements stand out to you in this piece? Curator: Observe how Blake employs line to delineate form and space. The density and direction of hatching create both texture and depth, guiding our eye. Note the contrast between the solidity of the figures and the fluidity of the water, achieved through varied linear techniques. Editor: So, it’s the interplay of these formal techniques that create the mood? Curator: Precisely. The formal arrangement communicates emotional and symbolic weight through the very structure of the image. What have you gleaned from this? Editor: I’m now more aware of how the artist’s choice of line dictates my experience of the work.