Dimensions: image: 38 x 74 mm
Copyright: NaN
Curator: William Blake's small wood engraving, "Thenot Remonstrates with Colinet," presents a pastoral scene, executed with stark contrasts. Editor: The mood is rather intense, isn't it? The sharp lines create a sense of urgency, almost anxiety. Curator: Indeed. Blake created this illustration for Thornton's "Virgil." The figure of Thenot, on the left, gestures emphatically towards Colinet. We can contextualize it within the era's debates about classical education. Editor: The dramatic light, those sharp rays cutting through the sky, emphasize the tension. And the textures are quite remarkable for such a small print. Curator: Blake's radical technique—cutting against the grain of the wood—allowed for these very bold, unconventional marks. He was challenging traditional printmaking conventions. Editor: It's fascinating how such a compact format can convey so much emotional weight and such a strong point of view about the role of art. Curator: It encourages us to think about the institutions and traditions Blake challenged. Editor: A powerful statement, made even more impactful by its intimate scale.
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tate about 2 months ago
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/blake-thenot-remonstrates-with-colinet-a00112
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tate about 2 months ago
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Samuel Palmer was the most important of Blake’s followers, known as the Ancients. Palmer first met Blake in 1824. He described these illustrations to an imitation of the First Eclogue by the Roman poet Virgil as ‘visions of little dells, and nooks, and corners of Paradise’. Palmer’s art was particularly influenced by them. These prints appealed to the Ancients because they were the result of Blake’s experiments with a new medium; he had never engraved on wood before. Even at the age of sixty-four he wanted to make further explorations in his art. Gallery label, August 2004
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