The Vision of Eliphaz

The Vision of Eliphaz by William Blake, created in 1825, stands as a powerful example of the artist's late visionary style. This fine print, executed using the demanding technique of line engraving, reflects the deep spiritual concerns that dominated Blake’s career during the pivotal period of 1801 to 1825. As a towering figure in British Romanticism, Blake utilized the print medium not merely for reproduction but as an expressive artistic tool. The work is fundamentally linked to the artist's celebrated series of illustrations for the Book of Job, commissioned late in his life, which are considered among the defining achievements of 19th-century graphic art.

The subject depicts Eliphaz, one of Job’s comforters, experiencing a terrifying nocturnal vision—a moment described in the biblical text when a spirit passes before him. Blake masterfully captures the tension between the physical world and the supernatural in this engraving. Eliphaz is shown reacting with abject terror, shielding himself while the spectral figure, often interpreted as a manifestation of divine power, looms overhead, dominating the composition. Blake’s highly personalized interpretation emphasizes the thick, dark outlines and stark, dramatic contrast characteristic of his finest printmaking. His unique stylistic approach transforms the narrative moment into an intensely personal and often unsettling confrontation with the divine.

This particular work is preserved within the collections of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a critical document of the religious and artistic environment of British culture in the early 19th century. The detailed execution confirms Blake’s profound mastery of the engraver’s burin, allowing him to achieve textural depth and dramatic clarity that few peers could match. Given the historical significance and age of these foundational religious prints, many high-quality reproductions of this and related works are frequently made available to scholars and the general public through accessible public domain archives, ensuring the enduring influence of Blake's visualization of the Book of Job.