"And I only am escaped to tell thee," 18th-19th century

Editor: This is William Blake’s print, "And I only am escaped to tell thee," created sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. The scene feels chaotic, but also very dramatic. What cultural contexts might have shaped Blake’s vision here? Curator: Blake often critiqued societal norms, particularly the oppressive institutions of his time. Knowing that, how might we view the fleeing figure and the figures at the center of the image? Editor: Perhaps as survivors of a catastrophic event, maybe questioning established power? The text around the image adds another layer. Curator: Precisely. Blake used text and image to challenge religious and political authority, inviting viewers to reconsider dominant narratives. Editor: That gives me a whole new perspective on the work. Thanks for illuminating that!