Illustration to Milton`s Paradise Lost 1807

William Blake, the visionary English poet and artist, created this illustration to Milton's Paradise Lost using watercolor and ink. Blake lived during a time of immense social and political upheaval marked by the French Revolution, and the rise of industrial capitalism. In this context, his art often explored themes of rebellion, freedom, and the struggle against oppression. This illustration reflects his unique interpretation of Milton’s epic poem. Blake sympathized with the character of Satan as a heroic rebel against divine authority. The artwork challenges traditional religious and political authority, and encourages viewers to question established power structures. It delves into the complexities of good and evil, freedom and authority. Blake rejected the rigid social norms of his time, and aligned himself with marginalized groups. His art embodies the emotional and spiritual intensity of his own beliefs. Blake said, “The imagination is not a state: it is human existence itself.”