Blasted Tree and Flattened Crops, from The Pastorals of Virgil

Blasted Tree and Flattened Crops, from The Pastorals of Virgil is a seminal wood engraving created by the English visionary artist William Blake English, 1757-1827, in 1821. This work is one of seventeen illustrations Blake produced for Robert John Thornton’s third edition of Virgil’s Pastorals, specifically accompanying the passage concerning the destruction of nature. Executed on off-white wove paper, the medium of wood engraving allowed Blake to achieve a dense, cross-hatched texture and deep contrasts, characteristics which distinguish these small-scale illustrations from his larger, more fluid relief etchings.

The subject powerfully conveys themes of natural devastation, with the titular tree appearing shattered by a catastrophic force and the surrounding crops flattened below. Despite the intimate scale of this print, Blake imbues the imagery with immense, almost primeval dramatic force, reflecting his distinctive, spiritual interpretation of classical texts. Produced in England during a period of significant innovation in printmaking, the visual language Blake employs in works like Blasted Tree and Flattened Crops departs sharply from conventional illustration styles of the era, relying on rugged lines and deep shadows to heighten the emotional impact of the ruined landscape.

Critics often cite these illustrations as among Blake's most influential late-career works, prefiguring later developments in modern prints due to their expressive intensity. This particular piece is classified as a vital example of 19th-century English graphic arts and resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historically significant artwork, high-quality images of such antique prints are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring Blake’s powerful vision remains accessible for appreciation and scholarly study worldwide.