The Resurrection c. 1805

Editor: Here we have William Blake's "The Resurrection," a watercolor piece. The figure almost seems to be emerging from the paper itself. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider Blake's radical printmaking. How does the labor involved, the physical act of etching and printing, influence the final ethereal image? Is it a rebellion against industrial production? Editor: So you are saying that the making of the artwork is the message? Curator: Partially, but the economic circumstances surrounding Blake's production, his reliance on patronage versus mass markets, also shapes its meaning. Think about who consumed these images and why. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. The means of production and the social context are key to understanding Blake's vision.