Moses Staying the Plague (?) [recto] c. 1780 - 1785

William Blake created this artwork, Moses Staying the Plague (?), using graphite, pen and gray ink, and gray wash. The composition is dominated by a central, towering figure with outstretched arms, contrasting with the bodies of those in anguish below. Blake’s use of line and wash creates a dramatic sense of light and shadow. Notice how the stark contrast heightens the emotional intensity of the scene. The figures, with their contorted poses, reach upwards, and the sky opens above them. Blake was deeply engaged with religious and mystical themes, and this drawing is no exception. Blake uses the scene to communicate complex ideas about divine intervention, human suffering, and the power of faith. The linear style, typical of Blake, emphasizes the contours of the bodies and garments, abstracting them into expressive forms. Ultimately, the drawing functions as a complex visual metaphor, inviting ongoing interpretation and re-interpretation of its cultural and philosophical meanings.