A Vision: The Inspiration of the Poet (Elisha in the Chamber on the Wall) c. 1819 - 1820

Editor: Here we have William Blake’s "A Vision: The Inspiration of the Poet (Elisha in the Chamber on the Wall)." It's a watercolor and ink drawing. I’m struck by how the receding space seems to isolate the figures. What can you tell me about its context? Curator: Blake was deeply critical of the institutional structures of his time, including the Royal Academy. Do you see how this chamber resembles a stage, almost theatrical? Blake used such imagery to question authority and envision alternative spiritual realities. How does this setting affect your interpretation of the "vision"? Editor: It makes it seem very constructed, a deliberate staging of inspiration rather than a spontaneous event. I hadn't thought of it that way. Curator: Precisely! And how does that inform Blake’s view on the role of the artist in society? Editor: It suggests the artist has agency, actively shaping the vision instead of passively receiving it. Thank you, I’ll definitely consider that.