The Vision of Eliphaz

The Vision of Eliphaz by William Blake, created in 1825, is a powerful example of the artist's late-career vision, executed as an engraving on India paper. This print depicts a terrifying scene drawn from the Book of Job (Job 4:12-17), specifically the moment when Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job's counselors, recounts receiving a sudden, overwhelming vision. Blake captures the height of the spiritual encounter, showing a colossal, shadowy spirit looming over the startled, reclining figure of Eliphaz. The composition emphasizes the dread and supernatural terror central to Blake’s interpretation of scripture.

This work falls squarely within the 1801 to 1825 period, when Blake, already established as a pivotal British Romantic artist, was creating some of his most profound and technically refined illustrated narratives. Blake utilized the medium of prints, especially line engraving, as a primary means of disseminating his complex mythological and religious ideas. The delicate texture of the India paper supports the fine line quality achieved through the engraving process, resulting in a highly dramatic contrast of light and shadow that enhances the ethereal nature of the specter. While the figures display the muscular and idealized forms associated with neoclassicism, the psychological intensity and visionary subject matter firmly place the work within the defining characteristics of Blake’s prophetic art.

This extraordinary piece showcases Blake's mastery in translating complex theology into striking visual form. Today, the work is part of the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., where it serves as a key example of the artist's dedication to Biblical illustration in his later output. Due to its age and creation date in the early 19th century, this valuable engraving is often among the historical artworks available in the public domain, allowing its powerful imagery to be accessed by a wide audience globally for study and appreciation.