Artwork

The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; The Devils Mauling Each Other

The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; The Devils Mauling Each Other is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The 1827 engraving titled *The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; The Devils Mauling Each Other* is a restrike produced toward the end of William Blake’s artistic career. Blake, an English poet, painter and printmaker, is now recognized as a pivotal figure of the Romantic period, noted for his richly symbolic and highly imaginative visual works.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts two stout, winged beings locked in a violent aerial struggle, their faces contorted with rage. Beneath them, turbulent waves surge in spiraling lines, while distant, indistinct figures linger on a far shore, suggesting a broader scene of conflict and moral disorder.

Technique & Style

Blake employed precise, sharp incised lines and nuanced shading on a metal plate to convey motion and emotional intensity. The tangled limbs and expressive faces are rendered with a controlled chaos, creating a narrative rhythm that unfolds through the inked surface.

History & Provenance

This print is a later restrike of an original work, indicating that Blake revisited the plate after its initial production. The 1827 date places it among the final series of engravings he issued, reflecting his sustained engagement with printmaking until the close of his life.

Context

Blake’s prints often merge poetic vision with visual allegory, and this piece exemplifies his fascination with themes of corruption and spiritual conflict. The work aligns with Romantic concerns about individual experience, inner turmoil, and the critique of institutional authority.