William Blake

Introduction for essay about William Blake

William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. His prophetic poetry has been said to form “what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language”. His visual artistry led one contemporary critic to proclaim him “far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced”. In 2002, Blake was placed at number 38 in the BBC’s poll of the 100 Greatest Britons. While he lived in London his entire life, except for three years spent in Felpham, he produced a diverse and symbolically rich body of work that embraced the imagination as “the body of God” or “human existence itself”. Although Blake was considered mad by contemporaries for his idiosyncratic views, he is held in high regard by later critics for his expressiveness and creativity, and for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work. His paintings and poetry have been characterised as part of the Romantic and visionary traditions, and as “Pre-Romantic”. Reverent of the Bible but hostile to the Church of England, Blake was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American revolutions.

Structure of essay papers on William Blake

1. William Blake’s early life and background
2. The major themes in Blake’s work
3. Blake’s creative process and approach to art
4. The influence of religion on Blake’s work
5. The influence of nature on Blake’s work
6. The influence of other artists on Blake’s work
7. The social and political context of Blake’s work
8. Blake’s legacy and impact on subsequent artists
9. Critical interpretations of Blake’s work
10. The significance of Blake’s work in the history of art

Conclusion

William Blake was a very talented and prolific writer and artist. His work was very influential during his lifetime and continues to be studied and appreciated by many people today. Blake was a man ahead of his time and his work is still relevant and important today.

The most popular works of this author

1. Songs of Innocence and of Experience
2. The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
3. Milton: A Poem
4. Jerusalem The Emanation of the Giant Albion
5. The Book of Urizen
6. The Song of Los
7. The Book of Ahania
8. The Four Zoas
9. Vala or The Fourfold Vision
10. Poetical Sketches