Job's Comforters

Job's Comforters by William Blake is a powerful example of the artist’s mature printmaking, executed in 1825. This work is an engraving printed on India paper, reflecting the distinctive technical quality Blake achieved during the final years of his life. It belongs to his celebrated series of illustrations for the Biblical Book of Job, a narrative that profoundly resonated with the artist’s own spiritual and artistic philosophies.

The composition depicts the moment when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—have arrived to "comfort" the suffering protagonist but have instead begun to deliver judgments, prompting Job's famous defense of his innocence. Characteristic of Blake's graphic oeuvre, the scene emphasizes spiritual drama through highly stylized, idealized figures and dynamic lines, often drawing inspiration from Michelangelo and Dürer. Executed late in the period of 1801 to 1825, this work consolidates Blake’s unique synthesis of Neoclassical structure and Romantic mysticism. The visual intensity of the composition is heightened by Blake's use of integrated textual elements, which frame and inform the action.

As an example of British printmaking, the work demonstrates Blake's precise handling of the burin, resulting in a clarity of line and detail that enhances the emotional weight of the narrative. The subtle contrast and texture afforded by the use of India paper differentiate this impression. The enduring theological and artistic importance of the Job series ensures its continued study; today, many high-quality prints and references to the series are available through major institutional collections. This particular impression of Job’s Comforters is housed in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and the public crucial insight into the final creative endeavors of the visionary printmaker.