Songs of Innocence: The Lamb

"Songs of Innocence: The Lamb" is an iconic illuminated print by William Blake, created and refined across the years 1789 to 1825 as part of his major collection, Songs of Innocence. This particular impression, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies Blake's unique technique: relief etching printed in a warm orange-brown ink, which he then meticulously hand-colored with watercolor and luminous applications of shell gold.

The piece acts as a visual accompaniment to one of Blake's most celebrated poems, interpreting the themes of pastoral innocence and creation. Blake depicts a small Boy figure, often positioned near or addressing the titular animal, the lamb. This pairing of the boy and the lamb embodies the pure, untainted spirit Blake championed in his early poetry, contrasting the complexities of adulthood explored in his complementary volume, Songs of Experience. This method of integrating poetry and image reflected Blake’s pioneering approach to publishing during the Romantic period.

As a masterful example of late 18th and early 19th-century prints, the durability and accessibility of the relief etching medium allowed Blake to produce editions over several decades, though each remained unique due to the custom hand-coloring. This iteration resides within the distinguished collection of The Met. Because the original works are now historic, high-quality prints of this profound piece frequently become available through public domain initiatives, ensuring wider access to Blake's revolutionary artistic legacy and his distinctive approach to fusing text and image.