Songs of Innocence: Nurse's Song

Songs of Innocence: Nurse's Song by William Blake (1789-1825) is an exquisite example of the poet-artist’s unique illuminated printing technique, combining image and text on a single plate. Classified as a print, this piece was integral to Blake's seminal compilation, Songs of Innocence, which explored themes of pastoral simplicity, freedom, and the benevolent oversight of nature. Produced across several decades, Blake and his wife, Catherine, personalized impressions of this work, making each print unique.

The piece was created using a relief etching process, printed here in a warm orange-brown ink. Blake then enhanced the impression through meticulous hand-coloring, applying delicate watercolor washes and touches of metallic shell gold, which impart a subtle luminosity characteristic of his finest editions. The composition vividly depicts the poem’s setting, illustrating a central figure, the Nurse, supervising a group of children engaged in joyous, unrestrained activity. Figures of both men and women are subtly integrated into the background, emphasizing the protected, communal world of ‘Innocence’ where the freedom of dancing and play is paramount.

Blake pioneered the use of relief etching for his illustrated books, treating text and imagery as indivisible elements of a unified artistic statement. This revolutionary approach ensured that the visual art was inseparable from the poetic verse. Today, high-resolution prints and images of influential Blake works, such as Nurse's Song, are often available through public domain sources, allowing wide access to his revolutionary vision. This historic piece remains a key highlight of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s renowned collection of British prints.