Blasted Trees and Flattened Crops, from Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil" 1821

"Blasted Trees and Flattened Crops", is a wood engraving by William Blake, part of Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil." Blake, a visionary artist and poet, lived through a period of immense social and political upheaval, including the American and French Revolutions. His radical views on religion, society, and the role of the individual are etched into this piece, a stark departure from traditional pastoral scenes. The image is a desolate landscape, not one of serene beauty, but of destruction. The blasted trees and flattened crops are an arresting symbol for the social and economic disparities of Blake’s England. Blake was deeply critical of the period’s oppressive social structures and questioned the exploitation of the poor and working classes. How does the stark black and white contrast evoke emotions of despair? Does this alternative narrative resonate with your own experiences of social or environmental injustice?