William Blake

English poet, painter, and printmaker of the 18th and 19th centuries

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About

William Blake (1757-1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker, a major figure of Romanticism. Trained as an engraver, he invented an innovative printing technique, illuminated printing, combining text and image on a single plate. His works, such as Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, explore spiritual and social themes, critiquing empire, slavery, and inequality. Largely unrecognized in his lifetime, he was rediscovered in the 19th century and is now celebrated for his unique vision.

* 1757-11-28 — † 1827-08-12

Major works

  • Songs of Innocence (1789)poetry collection
  • The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790-1793)prophetic book
  • Songs of Experience (1794)poetry collection
  • Milton: A Poem (1804-1811)epic poem
  • Jerusalem: The Emanation of the Giant Albion (1804-1820)epic poem

Key milestones

  • 1782Marries Catherine Boucher, who becomes his essential collaborator.
  • 1803Tried for treason after ejecting a soldier from his garden; acquitted in 1804.
  • 1827Dies in London; buried in an unmarked grave at Bunhill Fields.

Themes

spiritualitysocial critiqueimaginationinnocence and experienceliberty

Sources: tate.org.uk · britannica.com · blakearchive.org