Unyok'd Heifers, Loitering Homeward (Return of the Shepherd), from Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil"

Unyok'd Heifers, Loitering Homeward (Return of the Shepherd), from Thornton's "Pastorals of Virgil" is a remarkable wood engraving created by William Blake in 1821. This work belongs to a celebrated series of seventeen illustrations Blake executed for an edition of Virgil’s Pastorals published by Dr. Robert John Thornton. While initially deemed crude by contemporary critics due to their unconventional, almost primitive style, these small-scale prints are now widely celebrated as masterpieces of the relief printing technique, marking a profound moment in the history of British illustration.

The scene depicts a quiet moment of rustic life, combining the classical source material of the Eclogues with Blake’s highly personalized aesthetic vision. Utilizing the challenging medium of the wood engraving, Blake renders forms with stark contrast and powerful energy. A small cluster of boys guide the weary cows homeward, capturing the "loitering" movement described in the title. These heifers, now unyok'd, symbolize the conclusion of the day's labor and the peace of the approaching evening. Blake’s compressed, expressive handling of the figures and animals conveys the ancient simplicity inherent in the Pastorals, contrasting heavily with the more academic illustrations surrounding Blake's contributions in the original 1821 publication.

This particular impression, along with the other surviving prints in the series, testifies to the enduring legacy of Blake's final years of work. The artist’s powerful, visionary handling cemented the role of the wood engraving as a serious artistic medium in the nineteenth century. This historically significant piece is part of the distinguished collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving its importance for future generations. As seminal works from this era, prints of the complete series are frequently available through public domain collections.