Artwork

The Book of Job: Pl. 2, When the Almighty was yet with me, When my Children

The Book of Job: Pl. 2, When the Almighty was yet with me, When my Children 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

Created in 1825, this print is part of William Blake’s late series of engravings that reinterpret biblical narratives. The work visualizes an early episode from the Book of Job, showing the patriarch surrounded by his family before the onset of his suffering. The composition is dense, populated with numerous figures and a luminous, floating bearded figure that dominates the upper space.

Subject & Meaning

The scene captures a moment of domestic intimacy, emphasizing the closeness of Job and his children prior to the calamities that follow in the biblical account. By placing the central figure within a radiant circle, Blake underscores a sense of divine presence and protection that will later be challenged.

Technique & Style

Executed as an engraving, the image relies on stark chiaroscuro, with deep shadows contrasting against bright, illuminated forms. Swirling clouds and irregular lines fill the background, creating a turbulent atmosphere that heightens the emotional intensity typical of Romantic visual language.

History & Provenance

Blake, an English poet, painter, and printmaker who spent his career in London, produced this work toward the end of his life. It remains a representative example of his mature printmaking practice, reflecting his sustained interest in biblical themes and personal mythology.

Context

The print belongs to a broader Romantic movement in which artists sought to convey heightened feeling, dramatic tension, and the sublime. Blake’s integration of text from the Bible around the margins exemplifies his fusion of visual and literary elements, a hallmark of his visionary approach.