The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually

The Book of Job: Pl. 1, Thus did Job continually by William Blake is a key engraving created in 1825, serving as the introductory plate to his comprehensive series illustrating the biblical Book of Job. This print belongs to one of the artist's most celebrated and technically refined late projects, demonstrating the power of British Romantic-era prints for allegorical narrative.

The composition depicts Job, his wife, and their ten children gathered in idyllic harmony under a large, flourishing tree. They are shown engaging in prayer, symbolizing Job's initial righteousness and prosperity before the trials inflicted upon him by Satan. Blake utilizes the medium of engraving with meticulous precision, employing defined linear structures and rich tonal variations characteristic of the technique. The borders of the print contain smaller scriptural inscriptions and miniature illustrations that visually reinforce the central themes of the Old Testament narrative.

Created in the final years of Blake’s life, this series represents the culmination of his lifelong efforts to unify poetry and visual art through mythological and spiritual subject matter. The artist, a seminal figure in the culture of the United Kingdom, used this format to offer a profound critique of conventional religious dogma. This specific work resides in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, providing crucial context for the study of 19th-century graphic art. As a historical piece, high-quality public domain reproductions and prints of this powerful religious interpretation remain accessible globally.