The Book of Job: Pl. 4, And I only am escaped alone to tell thee

"The Book of Job: Pl. 4, And I only am escaped alone to tell thee" by William Blake is a profound engraving created in 1825. This piece serves as the fourth plate in the artist’s celebrated illustration cycle based on the Old Testament Book of Job, detailing the devastating trials inflicted upon the pious protagonist. Executed with the demanding precision of line engraving, Blake used the medium to achieve high contrast and textural detail, emphasizing the emotional turmoil unfolding in the scene.

Blake, a key figure in the Romantic era originating from the United Kingdom, utilizes highly expressive human forms and meticulous draftsmanship to depict the moment of profound loss. The composition captures the solitary messenger delivering the calamitous news to Job and his family, illustrating the dramatic weight of the tragedy. Through his skilled handling of light and shadow, Blake underscores the theme of divine persecution and human suffering that dominates this stage of the biblical narrative.

Completed late in the artist's life, this series of prints is often regarded as the technical and spiritual pinnacle of Blake's entire body of work. The enduring power of his vision ensures these prints remain essential documents of English art history. This particular impression of the work is housed within the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. High-quality representations of Blake’s illustrations, including this influential piece, are widely available through the public domain, securing its accessibility for scholarly research and appreciation worldwide.