Winged Figure Flying Through Clouds, from Bell's "Poets"

Winged Figure Flying Through Clouds, from Bell's "Poets" is a delicate and powerful print created by William Blake in 1790. This work, utilizing the combined techniques of etching and engraving, exists in only one state, testifying to the definitive nature of Blake’s design for this specific publication. Classified as a foundational example of British printmaking, the piece originated as an illustration commissioned for John Bell’s extensive series, The Poets of Great Britain, a significant professional undertaking that required Blake to translate complex literary concepts into concise visual narratives appropriate for widespread reproduction.

The subject matter depicts a dynamic, muscular winged figure, possibly a representation of poetic inspiration or the transcendent human spirit, flying dramatically across a celestial expanse filled with turbulent, swirling clouds. Blake utilizes the precision of the engraving tool to render the luminosity of the figure and the fine detail of its surroundings, capturing a sense of sublime motion and imaginative intensity characteristic of early Romanticism. Even in this format, intended for insertion into a published volume, the work demonstrates the visionary force that permeates Blake’s independent artistic output. This historically significant illustration resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a vital record of Blake’s career as both an innovative artist and a commercial engraver in the late eighteenth century. As an early work by the artist, the image is frequently part of available public domain resources, ensuring continued access to important historical prints.