Medea Killing Her Children

Medea Killing Her Children is a powerful drawing created by William Blake English, 1757-1827. Executed sometime between 1777 and 1827, this striking depiction of the tragic mythological figure is rendered on cream wove paper using a sophisticated combination of pen and black ink, brush and brown wash, dramatically heightened with white gouache. This layered technique elevates the drawing medium, providing the figures with sculptural dimension and profound emotional weight usually associated with painting.

The work addresses the harrowing climax of Euripides’s tragedy, depicting Medea’s vengeful act against Jason by slaying their two sons. As was typical for Blake, the composition moves beyond simple narrative illustration, focusing instead on the intense psychological and spiritual chaos of the scene. Blake’s engagement with classical themes, filtered through his highly individualized and visionary style, places this piece within the ferment of the Romantic movement in England, where established academic norms were being challenged by expressive individualism.

The figures are characterized by dynamic distortion and dramatic interplay of light and shadow, emphasizing the moral and emotional collapse central to the myth. This seminal drawing remains a vital document for understanding Blake’s evolving draftsmanship throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries. As a significant example of English cultural output from the period, the original work resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Though the physical drawing remains fragile, high-resolution digital prints derived from this public domain work ensure its accessibility for ongoing study and appreciation.