Songs of Experience: The Sick Rose

Songs of Experience: The Sick Rose by William Blake (1794-1825) is an essential work from the illuminated manuscript combining his poetic and artistic genius. This piece is classified as a print, executed using the demanding technique of relief etching, which was printed in orange-brown ink. Following the printing process, Blake meticulously finished the work through hand-coloring, applying rich watercolor washes and delicate accents of shell gold to heighten the visual drama and texture of the scene. This method allowed the artist complete control over the production, reinforcing his dual role as poet and visual interpreter.

The illustration serves as a visual metaphor for the poem of the same title, exploring themes of hidden corruption and moral infection that plague the innocent soul. The subject matter focuses allegorically on a large, drooping pink rose being consumed by an unseen, devastating "worm," a symbol of secret disease or moral destruction. Blake dramatically renders the surrounding green Leaves, which frame the dying flower, contrasting the potential for natural flourishing with the reality of decay. Blake’s work is historically significant for its unique method of literary and visual integration. This impression, highly valued for its quality, resides in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a pivotal example of late 18th and early 19th-century English prints, this work is frequently cited in studies of Romanticism and is often made available through public domain archives for educational use.