Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy"

The Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy" is a rare and highly technical print created by William Blake in 1793. This British work offers profound insight into Blake's experimental printmaking methods during the pivotal period of 1776 to 1800. The medium is a relief etching, distinguished by a specific and complex inking procedure: the plate was inked indirectly, by transferring ink from another plate thinly coated with ink. This method suggests a highly controlled, non-standard approach to reproducing images, likely intended to create unusual textural effects or conserve scarce materials.

The significance of this piece lies in its origin. It was created using a fragment of a plate that Blake had presumably cancelled or rejected from production. The use of a “cancelled plate” suggests that Blake or his studio repurposed the physical artifact, perhaps to test new inking techniques or generate proofs that were never meant for formal publication. Blake, renowned for his innovative illuminated books, frequently employed relief etching as the primary method for merging text and image seamlessly. The restrike relates to the body of work known as A Prophecy, one of Blake’s critical mythological and political publications of the era.

The resultant image quality reveals the delicate nature of the transfer inking process, often producing a lighter, more atmospheric impression than directly inked prints. As a classified print, this piece exemplifies the unique processes employed by independent artists operating outside the traditional British academic establishment of the late 18th century. Today, this artifact of Blake’s working method resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Works of this age and stature often enter the public domain, allowing researchers and historians wide access to study the intricate details of Blake’s prolific and unconventional output.