A Figure Ascending in a Glory of Clouds (?) c. 1805

This sketch of a figure ascending in a glory of clouds was made by William Blake sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century, most likely with graphite on paper. Though simple, this drawing is rich with social and cultural meaning. Blake’s choice of graphite, a relatively inexpensive and accessible material, suggests a desire to democratize art-making. Unlike the laborious processes of oil painting or sculpture, graphite allows for quick, spontaneous creation, capturing fleeting ideas and visions. The ethereal quality of the figure, rendered with delicate lines, hints at the spiritual and imaginative realms that Blake often explored in his work. Blake was deeply critical of industrialization and the dehumanizing effects of capitalist labor. Through his emphasis on visionary experience and individual creativity, he sought to reclaim the human spirit from the drudgery of factory work. This sketch, with its emphasis on freedom and transcendence, can be seen as a testament to the power of imagination to overcome material constraints.