Every Man also Gave him a Piece of Money. Verso: God the Father with Attendant Angels c. 1821 - 1823

Editor: This is William Blake's "Every Man also Gave him a Piece of Money. Verso: God the Father with Attendant Angels." It looks like a pencil and wash drawing, and I’m struck by the figure's raw, almost unfinished quality. What's your take on it? Curator: I see a commentary on artistic labor and the handmade. Blake, often rejecting industrial modes, focused on the directness of his craft. The visible process, the exposed pencil lines, invite us to consider the physical effort of creation itself, questioning the value we assign to artistic "finish" versus the labor involved. Editor: So, it’s less about the divine figure and more about the act of making? Curator: Precisely. How does the materiality of the work—the paper, the visible strokes—shape your understanding of Blake's artistic statement regarding both production and consumption? Editor: That's a fascinating way to see it, it makes me think about the artist's hand in a new light. Curator: Indeed, considering the means of production truly enriches our appreciation.