The Book of Job: Pl. 7, And when they had lifted up their eyes

The Book of Job: Pl. 7, And when they had lifted up their eyes by William Blake, created in 1825, is a masterful example of British romantic engraving. This specific print belongs to Blake's seminal series of twenty-one illustrations detailing the biblical trials and ultimate redemption of Job. Executed late in the artist's life, these images represent the culmination of Blake's theological and artistic vision, combining intense spiritual narrative with meticulous technical skill in the print medium. The scene referenced in the title depicts the moment Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, arrive to comfort him. Seeing Job afflicted by illness and despair, they lift up their voices and weep, tearing their garments in recognition of his profound suffering.

Blake utilizes the precise lines inherent to the engraving technique to achieve dramatic contrast, illuminating the figures against the surrounding darkness and heightening the emotional tension. The figures are rendered with Blake's characteristic linear definition and symbolic weight, emphasizing the spiritual crisis unfolding. This series, born out of the cultural environment of the United Kingdom in the early 19th century, is widely regarded as among the most important graphic works of the Romantic era, demonstrating Blake’s ability to transform traditional illustration into a powerful meditation on faith and doubt. The piece is classified as a print and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Prints from this highly influential series are today frequently made available for scholarly study through public domain initiatives.