A Resurrection Scene (The Gambols of Ghosts) [recto] 1805 - 1808

William Blake made this pencil sketch, "A Resurrection Scene," in England, likely sometime between the late 1700s and early 1800s. Here, Blake grapples with religious subjects in a distinctively personal way. Note how the figures lack conventional beauty, possessing an almost grotesque quality. Blake was deeply invested in spiritual matters, but he was also a radical thinker skeptical of established institutions. The Church of England, for example, was deeply conservative. Blake favored a visionary, individual form of religious experience over conventional dogma. He even developed his own personal mythology. The "Gambols of Ghosts" suggests the artist’s more idiosyncratic spiritual beliefs. Blake's art, therefore, can be understood as a subtle form of cultural critique. To understand Blake, we can consult theological texts, poetry, and political pamphlets from his time. By understanding the historical context, we can better appreciate the nuances of his artistic vision.