William Blake: Biography of a Great Thinker

Summary

William Blake, born in 1757, was a visionary poet and artist who experienced ecstatic visions and conversed with the dead. Despite being considered mad by contemporaries, his unorthodox education and self-taught artistic skills led to innovative techniques like 'relief etching.' Blake's works, such as 'Songs of Innocence' and 'Jerusalem,' explored themes of innocence, experience, and societal critique. His legacy endures, with 'Jerusalem' becoming an unofficial English national anthem.

Takeaways

• 😇 William Blake was known for his visionary experiences, such as seeing angels and speaking to the dead, which led some to believe he was mad.
• 📜 His contemporaries, including William Wordsworth, acknowledged Blake's madness but also found profound interest in his work compared to more 'sane' figures.
• 🎨 Blake was a self-taught artist with a deep influence from the Bible and theological texts, showing a sensitivity to art from a young age.
• 🔗 He apprenticed under James Basire, learning engraving techniques that were somewhat old-fashioned and possibly contributed to his limited popularity in his time.
• 🏛️ Blake's time at the Royal Academy of Arts was marked by his reactionary views, favoring classic works over contemporary styles.
• 💍 He married Catherine, whom he taught to read and write, and they worked together, producing a significant body of work.
• 🖋️ Blake invented 'relief etching,' a technique that allowed his writings to be illuminated with his own artwork, as seen in 'Songs of Innocence'.
• 🌱 His poems, like 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience,' initially seem simple but address complex themes of society's ills and the human soul.
• 🏭 Blake was critical of the Industrial Revolution, viewing it as corrupt and advocating for the beauty of nature in his works.
• 🤝 Despite financial struggles, Blake and Catherine lived happily, with Catherine supporting his work until his death.
• 💔 Health issues, possibly related to his engraving work, plagued Blake's later years, and he died in 1827, leaving a legacy that has grown in appreciation over time.

Q & A

What was the popular opinion about William Blake during his lifetime?

William Blake was often considered a madman by his contemporaries due to his eccentric visions and beliefs.

How did William Wordsworth view William Blake's madness?

Wordsworth believed that Blake's madness was more interesting than the sanity of other poets like Lord Byron and Walter Scott.

What is the current perception of William Blake?

William Blake is now hailed as a visionary poet and artist, with his work being appreciated for its depth and originality.

What was unique about Blake's education?

Blake's education was unorthodox; he left school at the age of 10 and was largely self-taught, with significant influence from his mother and the Bible.

Why did Blake's parents change his apprenticeship from William Ryland to James Basire?

Blake's parents changed his apprenticeship because Blake had a disturbing premonition that Ryland would be hanged as a criminal, which later came true.

What was the significance of Blake's invention of 'relief etching'?

Relief etching was a technique where the background of a copper plate was dissolved away with acid, leaving the design to stand out, and it allowed Blake to create his own unique style of illuminated books.

What themes are explored in 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience'?

The collection explores the innocence of childhood and the balance between knowledge and corruption, often dealing with societal issues and inequities.

How did Blake's views on art differ from those of Sir Joshua Reynolds?

Blake preferred the classic works of Michelangelo and Raphael to the newer fashionable painters of the day, which set him apart from Reynolds' views at the Royal Academy of Arts.

What was the nature of Blake's relationship with his wife, Catherine?

William Blake and Catherine had a happy and supportive marriage. He taught her to read and write, and they worked together to produce a significant body of work.

What health issues did William Blake face towards the end of his life?

Blake suffered from an unknown ailment with symptoms consistent with biliary cirrhosis, possibly caused by prolonged exposure to engraving materials' toxins.

How did William Blake express his views on the Industrial Revolution?

Blake rejected the corruption he saw brought by the Industrial Revolution, referring to 'dark satanic mills' and celebrating the beauty of nature in his works.