Satan Going Forth fron the Presence of the Lord

Art Historical Context

William Blake's *Satan Going Forth from Presence of the Lord*1825–26) is a striking engraving from the visionary artist's late career, capturing a pivotal biblical moment from the Book of Job. In scene, Satan departs from God's presence, poised to test the faithful Job—a theme Blake explored deeply in his *Illustrations of the Book of Job* series. As a Romantic artist and mystic, Blake infused his work with profound spiritual drama, blending human, angelic, and animal forms to evoke the cosmic struggle between divine order and rebellion. Created just before his death in 1827, it reflects his lifelong fascination with scripture, redemption, and the imagination's power. Rendered in intricate engraving on a modest plate (8 7/16 x 6 5/8 in.), Blake's technique showcases his mastery of line and tone, achieved through meticulous etching and relief printing. This medium allowed him to produce affordable yet luminous prints, often combining image and text in his "illuminated printing" style. The larger sheet size (16 3/8 x 10 7/8 in.) highlights the work's intimate scale, inviting close contemplation. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Edward Bement, 1917), it exemplifies Blake's enduring influence on printmaking and visionary art, drawing visitors into the eternal dance of light and shadow.

About the Artist

William Blake|William Blake · 1757–1827

William Blake (1757–1827) stands as one of the most visionary and unconventional artists in British history, a poet-painter-printmaker whose mystical imagination and radical vision profoundly shaped the Romantic movement. Born in London's Soho district, Blake experienced visions from childhood—claiming to see angels in trees at age eight—and these spiritual encounters would guide his art throughou...