Los and His Spectre [verso]

Los and His Spectre [verso] by William Blake is a preparatory drawing executed in graphite between 1804 and 1807. Classified specifically as a drawing, the work provides direct insight into the artist’s methodical approach to composition. The technique involves graphite applied directly to paper, but critically, the surface is visibly squared. This methodical process of drawing horizontal and vertical grid lines across the image was employed by Blake when preparing a composition for scaling up, typically preceding its transfer to a large panel for tempera painting or for execution as an engraving.

The imagery stems from Blake's own intricate personal mythology, a system developed to describe the universe and the human psyche. Los, the Prophetic figure who represents the creative imagination, is shown confronting or grappling with his Spectre, the manifestation of the rational, materialist, and ultimately inhibiting self. This division of the self into imaginative Los and his skeptical Spectre is a central motif throughout Blake’s late illuminated books, addressing the eternal conflict between visionary art and cold reason.

This unique sketch is firmly situated within British artistic production of the period 1801 to 1825, illustrating the height of Blake’s intellectual and artistic maturity during the Romantic era. Blake’s masterful command of line and form is evident even in this provisional state, offering a strong sense of the figures’ musculature and dynamic tension. As a foundational example of Blake’s draftsmanship, the work resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it is preserved as a key element for understanding the creation of the visionary poet’s finished compositions. High-quality prints and reproductions of this foundational drawing are often made available through public domain archives, ensuring broader accessibility to Blake’s intensive working methods.