The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; The Devils Mauling Each Other

The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; The Devils Mauling Each Other by William Blake and Harry Hoehn is a powerful example of British Romantic-era printmaking, executed here as an engraving [restrike]. The artwork likely derives from Blake’s ambitious, late-career series of illustrations for Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, capturing the infernal punishment reserved for those damned for avarice and political malfeasance. Classified formally as a Print, this image uses the precise, linear method of engraving to render a scene of intense, moralizing chaos, a common satirical and didactic theme explored by artists during the period of 1826 to 1850.

Blake, renowned for his highly imaginative and moralistic visualizations of literary texts, conceived of a dense, circular composition where figures representing corrupted officials are locked in brutal, self-inflicted combat. The visual language employs intense bodily distortion and claustrophobic staging, characteristic of Blake’s late style. Although the design originated with Blake, the production of this particular print was carried out by Hoehn. Restrikes such as this one were crucial in allowing the public to access the complete cycle of Blake's intricate designs long after the artist’s death in 1827. Hoehn’s technical skill ensured the survival and circulation of these complex, densely worked images.

The British cultural context informs the visual urgency of the piece, reflecting contemporary anxieties about social decay and political corruption. The design maintains the spiritual and graphic intensity characteristic of the original masterwork. This particular piece highlights the enduring significance of morality and political critique within British art of the early to mid-nineteenth century. The work is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a significant record of both Blake’s unique vision and the efforts of printmakers like Hoehn to preserve his legacy. Due to the age of the original engravings, high-resolution prints of The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; The Devils Mauling Each Other are often available within the public domain for academic research and study.