Job and His Family

Job and His Family by William Blake is a key piece in the artist’s celebrated series illustrating the biblical Book of Job. Executed in 1825, this work is an intricate engraving on thick paper, part of a portfolio that represents Blake’s late period artistic output. Created during the height of the Romantic movement within the British culture of the 1801 to 1825 period, the series translates the Old Testament narrative into Blake’s highly personalized visual language.

Blake’s technical mastery is evident in the sharp detail and profound symbolic complexity of the composition. While he is often known for his illuminated books, this work demonstrates his powerful command of the engraving medium, a technique he meticulously employed to convey spiritual and moral themes. This specific scene, Job and His Family, traditionally depicts Job and his household restored to prosperity and happiness after his trials. The figures are typically gathered in an arcadian setting, symbolizing divine grace and the ultimate redemption of the righteous man. The composition reflects Blake's mature style, characterized by linear precision and an adherence to spiritual vision that sets his work apart from his contemporaries.

The finished portfolio, published in 1826, marked a triumphant conclusion to the artist's career. The work remains essential for understanding the unique intersection of religion, poetry, and visual art at the turn of the nineteenth century. This particular impression of the engraving is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and the public an exceptional view of one of the greatest achievements in British graphic art. Due to the historical nature of the production, many of Blake’s related prints have entered the public domain, allowing wide access to reproductions of this pivotal series.