Canto IV, Verse 294

Canto IV, Verse 294 is a significant collaborative print produced in 1803 by William Blake, Mary Ann Flaxman, and the publishing firm Cadell & Davies. This piece, executed using the demanding techniques of etching and engraving on wove paper, exemplifies British printmaking during the early nineteenth century.

The creation of this print falls squarely within the 1801 to 1825 period, a time characterized by rapid growth in literary illustration and the widespread use of print media for mass circulation. While Blake is renowned for his visionary approach, this specific print reflects the commercial and technical expertise necessary for illustrated book production. The careful combination of etching, which allows for loose, dynamic lines, and engraving, used for deep shadow and fine, precise details, provided the means to translate complex narrative scenes effectively onto paper.

Given the title's structure, the work likely serves as an illustration for an important literary text, using the print medium to interpret and communicate complex literary themes to a broader audience. The precision offered by the detailed engraving technique supports the formal depiction of narrative moment, defining forms and creating the visual tension characteristic of early Romantic expression in British art. Flaxman and Davies, as collaborators and publishers, played an essential role in ensuring the wide circulation of these illustrative prints, contributing substantially to the public consumption of visual arts tied to epic poetry and literature.

Classified strictly as a print, the work preserves an important record of early nineteenth-century artistic and publishing practice. This historic piece is currently held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. As a major work from this period, high-resolution reproductions of these prints are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring continued scholarly access to the output of Davies and his contemporaries.