The Blighted Corn Possibly 1821 - 1977

Curator: This is William Blake's small wood engraving, "The Blighted Corn," currently residing in the Tate Collections. The date of its creation is unknown. Editor: Stark. The high contrast between the dense blacks and negative space creates a dramatic, almost apocalyptic, feel. Curator: Blake was deeply concerned with the cycles of nature and decay. The blighted corn likely symbolizes spiritual or societal corruption. A visual metaphor for a fall from grace. Editor: The image looks so tactile. I wonder about the actual physical labor involved in carving such intricate details from wood, especially at this scale. Curator: The moon, often a symbol of the feminine and cyclical, is strangely dark here, almost eclipsed. Perhaps it is meant to signify a loss of intuition or feeling. Editor: It's fascinating how Blake transforms a seemingly simple pastoral scene into something so heavy with meaning through his particular choice of medium and technique. Curator: Indeed. The image is a powerful reminder of the darker aspects of the human condition. Editor: Yes, and to see this level of artistic skill, applied using such a rudimentary technique, feels so intimate and direct.