War 1805

Editor: William Blake’s "War", currently residing at Harvard Art Museums, depicts a scene of devastation and mourning. The composition feels crowded, almost claustrophobic. What do you make of Blake’s vision here? Curator: It strikes me as a lament, a primal scream against the ravages of conflict. Note the figures—are they Adam and Eve grieving Abel? Perhaps, but it's more than that. Blake’s watercolors often tap into universal anxieties, anxieties that resonate just as fiercely today. Do you feel that? Editor: I do, it’s pretty intense. All that suffering… so what do you think he’s trying to say? Curator: Maybe that war isn't just about battles and strategy. It's about the heartbreaking cost on humanity. Families torn apart, innocence lost…it's all there, etched in the faces and bodies. Makes you think, doesn't it? Editor: It really does. Thank you for shedding some light on this. Curator: My pleasure. Art like this stays with you.