Artwork

A Figure Ascending in a Glory of Clouds (?)

A Figure Ascending in a Glory of Clouds (?), by William Blake, graphite, 1805
A Figure Ascending in a Glory of Clouds (?), by William Blake, graphite, 1805

A Figure Ascending in a Glory of Clouds (?) is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. A Figure Ascending in a Glory of Clouds (?

About this work

Overview

A Figure Ascending in a Glory of Clouds (?) is a graphite drawing created by William Blake around 1805. The work exemplifies Blake's experimental and imaginative approach to art.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a figure enveloped in swirling lines, suggestive of hair, smoke, or clouds. The ambiguous form and lack of clear background contribute to the enigmatic nature of the subject, reflected in the uncertainty indicated by the question mark in the title.

Technique & Style

Executed in light graphite on paper, the drawing features overlapping lines that convey a sense of dynamic movement. The sketchy, unfinished quality may be intentional, characteristic of Blake's use of drawings as a means of exploring ideas.

Context

This work is representative of Blake's broader artistic practice, which emphasized the symbolic and the visionary. As a poet, painter, and printmaker, Blake's output was marked by a rich imaginative quality.

Artist & collection

Portrait of William Blake

Artist

William Blake

William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.