Artwork

The Book of Job: Pl. 11, With Dreams upon my bed thou scarest me and affrightest me

The Book of Job: Pl. 11, With Dreams upon my bed thou scarest me and affrightest me is a work on paper by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

If you like this style, check out Romanticism next—it’s all about big emotions and dramatic scenes.

This print shows a chaotic, dark scene with twisted figures tangled in swirling lines. A small person lies on the ground, reaching up toward a larger, shadowy form above. The background is filled with jagged shapes and sharp angles, like a storm or nightmare.

The text around the image is a poem about fear and visions, matching the wild, uneasy mood. The artist signed it in the corner, and it was published in London in 1825.

If you like this style, check out Romanticism next—it’s all about big emotions and dramatic scenes.

Overview

This 1825 print by William Blake, titled *The Book of Job: Pl. 11, With Dreams upon my bed thou scarest me and affrightest me / with Visions*, is a characteristic example of his late graphic output, blending poetic and artistic expression.

Subject & Meaning

The work illustrates a scene from the Book of Job, depicting a chaotic, dark moment where a small figure on the ground reaches towards a looming, shadowy presence amidst a turbulent background of jagged shapes, symbolizing fear and unsettling visions as described in the accompanying poem.

Technique & Style

Executed in Blake’s distinctive symbolic and imaginative style, the print features twisted, tangled figures and swirling lines, characteristic of his Romantic visual approach, with sharp angles and dark tones evoking a sense of turmoil.

History & Provenance

Signed by the artist and published in London in 1825, this print is part of Blake’s later body of work, reflecting his established practice as a poet, painter, and printmaker primarily based in London.

Context

Emerging from the Romantic movement, this piece embodies the emphasis on strong emotions and dramatic scenes, aligning with the broader artistic currents of its time.