The Wrath of Elihu

The Wrath of Elihu by William Blake, executed in 1825, exemplifies the final creative phase of this seminal British artist. This powerful image was created using engraving, printed on thick paper, a medium Blake mastered for expressing complex narrative and spiritual themes. This work falls squarely within the Romantic period (1801 to 1825), a time when Blake was deeply immersed in illustrating major literary and religious texts, solidifying his unique position within British art history.

Although Blake often worked across different media, his late career saw a dedicated return to printmaking, specifically producing intense visual interpretations for Biblical narratives. The titular figure, Elihu, appears in the Book of Job, offering a defense of divine justice and expressing anger at the lack of righteousness exhibited by Job’s comforters. Blake captures the intensity of this moment, utilizing the precise linear qualities inherent in engraving to define the dramatic contrast between light and shadow.

The resulting image, officially classified as a Portfolio piece, underscores Blake’s consistent commitment to the production and dissemination of his visionary art through prints. The choice of thick paper ensured the durability and quality of the finished impression. As a printmaker, Blake's works were designed for potential wider circulation; consequently, images deriving from this period often enter the public domain, allowing broader scholarly access to his complex visual language. The meticulous detail visible in the line work confirms Blake's technical skill even toward the end of his life. This significant engraving, The Wrath of Elihu, is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a key example of the artist's deeply personalized approach to religious iconography.