Illustration to Milton`s Paradise Regained 1820

Editor: This is William Blake's "Illustration to Milton's Paradise Regained," created around 1820 using ink, watercolor, and pencil on paper. It feels ethereal, almost like a dreamscape. The central figure, radiating light, is really striking, but I’m not quite sure what’s happening in the narrative. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The historical context here is crucial. Blake, deeply influenced by the political and social upheavals of his time, used religious narratives like "Paradise Regained" to critique power structures. Consider how the institutional Church controlled access to spirituality. This image challenges that authority, depicting a direct, ecstatic experience with the divine, seemingly unmediated by traditional clergy. Notice how the radiating light around the central figure dominates the composition. Who do you think she represents and why is she elevated above the others? Editor: Hmm, possibly the Virgin Mary? The way she's rising suggests some sort of ascension, and the others almost appear to be in awe, which reminds me of depictions of saints. Is it fair to say that he's imbuing her with political meaning too, then, given your comment about him using religious narrative as critique of power? Curator: Exactly. Blake challenges societal hierarchies, through the iconography of his religious pieces. In a world where access to power, spiritual or otherwise, was highly regulated, Blake's art suggests that true power resides in individual, almost revolutionary, experiences of divine revelation. It's a powerful political statement wrapped in religious imagery. What is especially radical is his equal representation of genders in that framework, as she is at the apex, literally. Editor: That's a really insightful way to read the image. I'll definitely look at Blake differently from now on. Curator: Understanding the historical and cultural contexts really opens up the work to broader interpretation. I appreciate your sharp questions!