Who painted The Fall of Man?

The Fall of Man was painted by William Blake in 1807.

Where can I see The Fall of Man?

The Fall of Man is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is The Fall of Man?

The Fall of Man is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of The Fall of Man?

Museum-quality prints of The Fall of Man are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Fall of Man

William Blake , 1807

The Fall of Man is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

William Blake’s watercolour *The Fall of Man* (1807) presents a complex, visionary tableau of the biblical expulsion from Eden. Central to the scene are two unclothed figures, presumed to be Adam and Eve, standing calmly amid a luminous clearing while a tumult of swirling forms and ominous clouds dominate the surrounding space.

Subject & Meaning

In Blake’s reinterpretation, Christ assumes the role traditionally assigned to the Archangel Michael, guiding the first humans out of paradise. Above the pair, God the Father occupies a throne within a celestial sphere, whereas the lower register opens onto a gaping Hell from which personifications of Sin and Death emerge, underscoring themes of judgment and redemption.

Technique & Style

The work is rendered in loose, sketch‑like watercolour washes, employing a muted palette of grays and browns punctuated by occasional pink or red glows. Blake’s use of fluid, overlapping lines creates a dreamlike instability, while the densely packed figures and swirling masses convey a sense of chaotic spiritual turbulence characteristic of his late Romantic visual language.

History & Provenance

*The Fall of Man* belongs to a series Blake began in 1806 and continued developing until his death, exploring the consequences of humanity’s exile. It follows the closely related 1806 watercolour *A Vision of the Last Judgement*, reflecting Blake’s sustained preoccupation with eschatological motifs during his final productive years.

Context

Created at the height of the Romantic movement, the piece exemplifies Blake’s departure from classical restraint toward a more expressive, visionary approach. Its synthesis of biblical narrative, personal mythology, and experimental technique influenced later Symbolist and visionary artists who sought to merge spiritual content with avant‑garde visual strategies.