The Fall of Satan

The Fall of Satan by William Blake, executed in 1825, is a profound expression of the artist’s late printmaking style and enduring engagement with dramatic biblical narratives. This composition, rendered as a precise engraving on thick paper, captures the moment of catastrophic judgment, a central theme in Blake’s expansive spiritual and poetic universe. The meticulous detail required for the print format showcases Blake’s mastery of line, generating intense visual energy despite the limitations inherent in monochromatic media.

Created during the period spanning 1801 to 1825, this work firmly belongs within the highly specific British tradition of visionary Romantic art, where religious themes are channeled through highly personalized iconography. Blake utilizes the subject to explore metaphysical concepts of pride, rebellion, and divine order, creating a scene of overwhelming spiritual drama. Unlike traditional depictions, Blake often merged his profound theological understanding with classical literary influences, reinterpreting the fall of the archangel as both a physical event and a symbolic collapse of reason.

As an individual print likely intended for inclusion in a larger portfolio, the engraving demonstrates the technical refinement Blake achieved late in his career. The dense cross-hatching and varied tonal rendering necessary to translate the dynamic movement onto the copper plate underscore the immense skill involved in producing high-quality prints during the 1820s.

This significant piece resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. It serves as a vital document of the last creative decade of the artist, cementing Blake’s reputation not only as a poet and painter, but as one of the most distinctive printmakers of his era.