Satan Exulting over Eve c. 1795

Editor: This is William Blake’s “Satan Exulting over Eve.” It’s undated, but from what I understand, it's part of a series of illustrations for Milton’s *Paradise Lost*. It's a watercolor. The scene feels both powerful and tragic. What strikes you most about this depiction? Curator: Well, it's impossible to ignore the charged relationship between power, gender, and transgression depicted here. Blake, steeped in the radical ideas of his time, offers a complex view of the Fall. Consider Eve's vulnerability versus the triumphant yet ambiguous figure of Satan. Is he truly exulting, or is there a hint of something else in his expression? Editor: Something else? Like what? Curator: Perhaps a critique of patriarchal structures that demonize female agency. Blake was deeply critical of societal constraints. This image invites us to question who the real prisoner is, and the systems that perpetuate this narrative. I find it fascinating. Editor: I see what you mean. It adds another layer to the story.