Illustration to Milton`s Paradise Lost 1807

Editor: Here we have William Blake's "Illustration to Milton's Paradise Lost," created in 1807, using ink, watercolor, and drawing on paper. The piece is dominated by a figure on the cross and the presence of classical figures...It strikes me as very dramatic. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Ah, Blake! Ever wrestling with giants, wasn't he? This illustration, it's not just *of* Milton, it's *with* Milton. Look at how he uses line, almost vibrating with energy, to depict these spiritual battles. Do you feel the tension between the earthly and the divine? Editor: Absolutely! The lines create a sense of movement, as if everything is in flux. Is that intentional, do you think? Curator: Intentional as breath, I suspect. Blake believed in the power of art to awaken the imagination, to challenge our perceptions. That serpent coiled around the cross - is it evil, or a symbol of transformation? Blake leaves it deliciously ambiguous, doesn't he? It also feels very "Romantic", stylistically speaking. What do you think? Editor: Yes, you're right! There's definitely a strong sense of emotion and drama, which makes sense given that it’s considered to be a piece in the Romanticism style. Curator: It’s interesting how Blake melds personal interpretation with biblical imagery, isn't it? Editor: Yes! I always considered a good illustration as one which makes you understand the text it refers to more, and maybe Blake really acheives it. Curator: Exactly, maybe it is like Blake wanted to take us on his journey of exploring Paradise Lost.