The Book of Job: Title Page

The Book of Job: Title Page by William Blake, created in 1825, introduces the artist’s final and perhaps most powerful set of biblical illustrations. This late work is executed using the medium of engraving, a printmaking technique Blake mastered to achieve intense clarity and dramatic contrast. Created in the United Kingdom, the design establishes the overarching themes of suffering, faith, and divine justice central to the Old Testament narrative.

Blake employed a highly symbolic visual language in this print. The Title Page frames the subsequent series, utilizing symmetrical figures and decorative elements characteristic of his distinctive vision. The composition features four allegorical figures surrounding the central lettering, suggesting the four elements or perhaps the four cardinal virtues challenged during Job’s ordeal. Unlike many popular prints of the era, this work is less concerned with realistic depiction and more focused on conveying profound spiritual states and mythological weight.

The finished series of illustrations for the Book of Job are considered among the greatest achievements of nineteenth-century European graphic art. Blake’s enduring influence on later artists and the widespread study of his visionary works confirms the historical significance of these engravings. This particular impression of The Book of Job: Title Page is held in the renowned collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. As a major work from the Romantic period, this print is frequently reproduced and often found in the public domain, allowing broad access to Blake's monumental interpretation of the biblical text.