Illustration to Milton`s Comus 1820

William Blake made this illustration to Milton's Comus using watercolor and ink, materials that allowed for the flowing lines and ethereal effects he sought. Blake was a printmaker by trade, and though this is a unique work on paper, it shares certain qualities with his engravings. You can see this in the crispness of the line, and the way he builds up tone through hatching. Notice also the strong contrast between light and dark, a trick he picked up from studying Renaissance prints. The whiteness of the paper itself is crucial, as Blake leaves much of it untouched, allowing it to stand for spiritual illumination. Blake’s technique was laborious, requiring immense concentration. He was not just an artist, but a visionary, and he believed that the making of art was a spiritual act. This comes through in the final image: less a picture than a record of intense personal labor. By focusing on these aspects of material and process, we can appreciate Blake's commitment to his craft, and his conviction that art could be a vehicle for profound ideas.