Dante and Virgil Penetrating the Forest 1824 - 1827

Editor: This is William Blake’s “Dante and Virgil Penetrating the Forest,” made with watercolor. It has such a ghostly quality. What strikes you most about this work? Curator: The layering of thin washes speaks volumes. Blake's material choices - the humble watercolor, the relatively small scale - challenge the grand oil paintings of the establishment. It’s a critique of artistic labor, isn't it? Editor: I see what you mean! So, it's less about the scene depicted, and more about the *making* of it? Curator: Precisely. Blake's process, readily available materials, democraticizes artmaking. It makes you think about who art is for and how it is made. Editor: That makes me think of how modern artists use a variety of different materials to make a point. Thanks for your insight!