The Book of Job: Pl. 2, When the Almighty was yet with me, When my Children / were about me

The Book of Job: Pl. 2, When the Almighty was yet with me, When my Children / were about me by William Blake is the second plate in the artist's celebrated series of illustrations based on the biblical Book of Job. Executed in 1825, this finished work is an engraving, demonstrating Blake’s mastery of line and composition during the final years of his artistic production.

The scene depicts the patriarchal Job in the full flowering of his early prosperity, a period described in the verses cited in the surrounding frame. Job and his wife sit centrally, surrounded by their ten children, who are shown engaged in music and leisure, symbolizing their contentment and familial harmony. Above them, a divine presence or manifestation of the Almighty is visualized, suggesting the protective covenant Job initially enjoyed. This integration of human figures and sublime spiritual forces is characteristic of Blake's intensely personalized interpretation of scripture.

This ambitious series, created late in the artist’s life, is widely regarded as Blake’s ultimate achievement in printmaking and book illustration, synthesizing decades of theological reflection and visionary artistry originating from the United Kingdom. Blake employed sharp, precise engraving techniques, allowing for high detail and clarity, which facilitated the widespread circulation of these prints. Although originally commissioned privately, the subsequent popularity of the series helped secure Blake’s legacy well beyond his death. This particular impression of The Book of Job: Pl. 2 is housed within the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, serving as a crucial example of Romantic-era British printmaking.