Satan Before the Throne of God 1825

William Blake created this print, "Satan Before the Throne of God," using etching, a process involving acid and metal. It’s a world away from the slick industrial printing of his era. Blake would have coated a copper plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. Then, using a sharp needle, he scratched his design, exposing the metal beneath. Dipping the plate in acid would bite into these lines, creating grooves that hold ink. The deeper the bite, the darker the line. You can see the variation in tone this process allows. Inking the plate, wiping the surface, and pressing it onto paper transfers the image. Each print is unique due to slight variations in inking and pressure, a direct contrast to mass production. Blake's meticulous process speaks to his desire for artistic control and individual expression, a rejection of industrial modes of production, and an embrace of craft. In this way, Blake made each print an original work of art.