Songs of Innocence: Spring (second plate)

"Songs of Innocence: Spring (second plate)" by William Blake is an exceptional example of the artist’s unique method of illuminated printing, a revolutionary technique he developed to combine poetry and image. Executed between 1789 and 1825, this work utilizes relief etching as its foundation. The complex process involved printing the raised lines of the copper plate, here rendered in a delicate orange-brown ink, followed by meticulous hand-coloring using watercolor and the shimmering accent of shell gold.

The imagery captures the themes of rejuvenation and youthful wonder central to Blake’s Songs of Innocence. The composition emphasizes the harmonious relationship between nature and early life, depicting young girls interacting gently with various animals, reflecting the pastoral innocence the artist associated with the spring season. Blake continued to work on and recolor impressions of his illuminated books for decades, resulting in notable variations between copies and affirming the individual nature of each print.

This particular impression showcases the vibrancy achieved through the artist's careful application of pigments and gold. The scarcity and importance of these original prints make them highly valued historical documents of the British Romantic period. Today, the enduring interest in Blake's vision means that high-resolution scans of his works often enter the public domain, making them essential resources for scholarly and artistic study. This significant print is housed within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.