Dimensions: image: 198 x 153 mm
Copyright: NaN
Editor: This is William Blake's "Satan Smiting Job with Sore Boils." The lines are so sharp, and the light and shadow create a really dramatic effect. What do you make of the composition? Curator: The stark contrast between light and shadow certainly commands attention. Consider how Blake uses line and form to articulate the figures. Notice the dynamism of Satan’s pose juxtaposed with Job’s prostrate form. Editor: Yes, Satan is so muscular and imposing. Job, on the other hand, seems completely defeated. Curator: Indeed. How does the figure of Satan, as presented through Blake's graphic style, function within the overall structure of the composition? Is he purely malevolent, or might there be a more complex reading? Editor: It's definitely more complex than it seems at first glance. The engraving makes you focus on structure and form. Curator: Precisely. Considering the formal elements, our understanding of the work’s thematic content grows.
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-satan-smiting-job-with-sore-boils-a00017
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This is one of twenty-one prints illustrating the Old Testament Book of Job, which Blake published in 1826. They were commissioned by Blake’s young admirer, John Linnell. Blake saw Job's trials and eventual spiritual rebirth as parallels to the creative struggles of the artist. Above the image is a quotation stressing Job's submission to his trials. The borders of the prints, which include extra images and text, complement the main engravings. Blake went on to produce a tempera painting of this scene, in which he slightly changed the composition. Gallery label, September 2004
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