'Evening amusement' 1782

'Evening amusement' is a print by William Blake, made at an unknown date, which now resides at the SMK in Copenhagen. Blake was a complex figure, deeply engaged with the political and social upheavals of his time, including the French Revolution and the rise of industrial capitalism. This print offers a glimpse into the leisure activities of the upper class. Yet, knowing Blake's critical stance on social hierarchies, it prompts us to reflect on how such scenes of leisure were predicated on the labor and exclusion of others. The figures, adorned in elegant dresses, gather in a serene outdoor setting, seemingly removed from the harsh realities of the era. Blake was deeply concerned with the spiritual and imaginative dimensions of human existence. In 'Evening amusement', he invites us to consider the emotional and psychological states of his subjects. Are they truly at peace, or is there an underlying sense of unease? The print invites us to question the true cost of such idyllic scenes.