Artwork
Job's Sons and Daughters Overwhelmed by Satan
Job's Sons and Daughters Overwhelmed by Satan is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1825, *Job’s Sons and Daughters Overwhelmed by Satan* is an engraving on thin paper by the English poet‑artist William Blake. Executed toward the end of his career, the print forms part of Blake’s sustained interest in biblical subjects rendered through highly personal visual symbolism.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a chaotic, night‑marish scene in which a winged, grotesque figure hovers above a crowd of human figures. Beneath the winged presence three individuals crouch beneath a massive cross, suggesting a moment of desperate supplication amid overwhelming evil, an interpretation that echoes the biblical story of Job’s family beset by demonic forces.
Technique & Style
Blake employs densely packed, intersecting lines to generate a sense of turbulence and weight. The engraving’s dark tonalities, swirling clouds, and stark contrasts are achieved through meticulous incising, producing a visual intensity that heightens the drama of the narrative.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in Blake’s London workshop, where he typically combined his poetic and visual practices. It remained within his estate after his death and later entered public collections, reflecting the limited but growing appreciation for his printmaking during the nineteenth century.
Context
Blake’s engagement with biblical themes was a constant throughout his oeuvre, and this work aligns with his broader project of re‑imagining scriptural episodes through a visionary lens. The piece exemplifies his belief in the imagination as a conduit for spiritual insight, a principle that informed much of his late print production.
Legacy
Although not as widely reproduced as some of Blake’s illuminated books, the engraving contributes to scholarly understanding of his late visual language. Its intricate line work and dramatic composition continue to be cited in studies of Romantic-era printmaking and the intersection of poetry and visual art.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
