Songs of Innocence: A Cradle Song (second plate) 1789 - 1825

William Blake created this color etching, titled "A Cradle Song," around 1789 as part of his "Songs of Innocence." It’s an image of a mother watching over her child in a cradle. Blake was a radical visionary, deeply critical of the social institutions of his time in late 18th-century England. Here, Blake uses visual codes and cultural references to explore themes of innocence, purity, and the corrupting influence of society. The poem interwoven with the image is about the redemptive potential of the infant, whose smiles bring heaven to earth. Blake critiques the institutionalization of religion, the hypocrisy of social norms, and the exploitation of the poor. To understand Blake, we need to delve into the history of dissenting religious movements and radical political thought during the Age of Revolution. Blake's art invites us to question the social conditions that shape our understanding of the world and the power dynamics at play in the art world itself.