Boy Returning Joyfully, with Plough and Oxen, from Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil" 1821

"Boy Returning Joyfully, with Plough and Oxen" is a wood engraving made by William Blake as an illustration for Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil." Blake lived during a period of immense social and political upheaval in England and was known for his mystical and spiritual approach to art. Blake's process was deeply personal, emphasizing imagination and vision over strict representation. In this pastoral scene, we see a boy guiding oxen, returning from labor. Yet, the mood is not one of toil but of joy. Blake often challenged the rigid social hierarchies of his time, and here, he imbues the worker with a sense of dignity and even grace. The figures are not idealized, but they exude a sense of vitality. Blake once said, "The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the Eyes of others only a Green thing that stands in the way." It's this ability to see beyond the surface, to find the spiritual in the everyday, that makes Blake's work so powerful. Ultimately, this small engraving invites us to consider the inherent worth and emotional depth of individuals, regardless of their social standing.