The Book of Job: Pl. 10, The Just Upright Man is Laughed to Scorn

The Book of Job: Pl. 10, The Just Upright Man is Laughed to Scorn, created by William Blake in 1825, is a powerful example of the artist’s mature work in the print medium. This iconic series, completed late in his career, is often regarded as the pinnacle of English visionary illustration, interpreting the biblical story of Job's suffering, piety, and eventual restoration. Using the demanding technique of line engraving, Blake visualizes the moment Job is mocked by his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Job is shown seated, distraught, while the surrounding figures express skepticism and contempt, embodying the failure of conventional religious wisdom to account for genuine, undeserved affliction.

The work demonstrates Blake's characteristic blend of classical anatomy and highly stylized, linear compositions, a style distinct within the prints produced in the United Kingdom during the early 19th century. Blake used engraving not merely for reproduction but as a primary artistic medium, carefully controlling the tone and texture through dense networks of line work. This unique aesthetic is visible in the carefully etched lines detailing the sorrow of the protagonist and the mocking gestures of his companions. This specific plate emphasizes the isolation and despair Job feels as his moral rectitude is questioned. As a historically significant piece, The Book of Job: Pl. 10 is preserved within the esteemed collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and high-quality images of this public domain work are frequently referenced by scholars studying British Romanticism.