Illustration to Milton`s Paradise Lost 1808

William Blake's "Illustration to Milton's Paradise Lost" visualizes a pivotal scene from the epic poem, reflecting the cultural and religious context of 18th-century England. Blake, a visionary artist and poet, used his art to challenge traditional interpretations of the Bible. Here, he depicts the creation of Eve with a tender and almost radical perspective. God’s gentle gesture contrasts sharply with the traditional patriarchal narratives of the time. Eve's pose is not of submission, but of quiet contemplation. Blake's choice to portray Adam as recumbent, seemingly still in the throes of creation, further shifts the focus toward Eve's emergence as an individual. Blake wrote, "The Imagination is not a State: it is Human Existence itself." With that in mind consider how this artwork invites us to reimagine not just the creation story, but also our understanding of gender, power, and humanity's potential for self-discovery.