Let the Day Perish Wherein I Was Born (The Book of Job) 1821

Editor: Here we have William Blake’s "Let the Day Perish Wherein I Was Born (The Book of Job)." The figures are very expressive and evoke a mood of despair. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Notice the materials: watercolor and ink on paper. Blake was a printer and engraver, so the means of production are key. Consider how this image was made, potentially reproduced, and circulated among his patrons. The social context shaped the final product. Editor: So, you are saying the method of production influenced the artwork itself? Curator: Precisely. Blake’s artistic practice, deeply intertwined with his political and religious beliefs, emphasizes the labor involved in creating art. Also, think about the consumption of art in his time. Editor: Interesting. I never considered the materials as such a key element in understanding the piece. Curator: Seeing the artwork from a materialist approach has been insightful. It helps understand Blake's artistic intention beyond the literal representation of the biblical story.