The Good Farmer, Probably the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Verso: Rough Sketch of Two or Three Figures in a Landscape c. 1780 - 1785

Editor: This is William Blake's "The Good Farmer, Probably the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares," from the Tate Collections. I’m struck by its somber mood and the dynamic composition of figures. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Note how Blake employs a limited tonal palette to evoke a sense of the ethereal. The stark contrast between light and shadow, created through delicate washes, underscores the moral weight of the composition. Observe the gestural language; consider its semiotic implications. Editor: So it’s less about the story and more about the visual relationships? Curator: Precisely. It is in the formal arrangement that the narrative finds its power. Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. Thanks, that's really helpful! Curator: Indeed. The essence lies within the form itself.