"Then a spirit passed before my face," 18th-19th century

Editor: So, this is William Blake's "Then a spirit passed before my face." It's hard to pin down a date. The figures seem to be emerging from the page, but the materials look quite humble. What strikes you about the piece? Curator: I see the labor of production—the meticulous etching lines, the material constraints, and the social context of printmaking, allowing wider access to Blake's visions. How might its availability affect its reception and challenge established artistic hierarchies? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It reframes my understanding of the work. Curator: Indeed, it shifts focus from individual genius to the broader process of art-making and dissemination.