Artwork
The Book of Job: Pl. 15, Behold now Behemoth which I made with thee
The Book of Job: Pl. 15, Behold now Behemoth which I made with thee 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
Overview
William Blake’s 1825 engraving, *The Book of Job: Pl. 15, Behold now Behemoth which I made with thee*, forms part of his illustrated treatment of the biblical Book of Job. Executed in London, the print presents a dramatic tableau centered on the mythic beast Behemoth, rendered in Blake’s characteristic symbolic visual language.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts the colossal, horned Behemoth emerging from a turbulent sea, its massive form dominating the lower register. Above, a bearded figure hovers among clouds, flanked by two winged beings, while biblical text encircles the image, reinforcing the scriptural source and underscoring themes of divine creation and the awe of nature’s monstrous aspects.
Technique & Style
Blake employed a stark chiaroscuro of deep blacks and bright whites, achieved through meticulous engraving, to heighten contrast and convey a sense of drama. The creature’s textured scales, gaping maw, and the swirling background are rendered with precise line work, reflecting the Romantic emphasis on emotional intensity and imaginative mythic representation.
History & Provenance
Created during Blake’s mature period, the plate was produced in 1825 as part of his larger Job series, a project that remained largely unpublished in his lifetime. The work now resides in major museum collections, illustrating Blake’s dual role as poet and visual artist and his lasting influence on Romantic art.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
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