God Judging Adam

William Blake

ca. 1795 · Relief etching, printed in color and finished with pen and ink and watercolor · Drawings and Prints

A nude and aged Adam, newly aware of his own nakedness and mortality, hangs his head before a fiery chariot bearing the divine maker whom he resembles exactly. For many years, this image was thought to represent Elijah in the fiery chariot, but more recently has been connected to a passage in Genesis 3:17-19 in which God condemns Adam for tasting the forbidden fruit. The print was made using a unique method of Blake's invention. A plate etched in relief was employed to print the design; then colors were painted onto millboard, or a similar surface, and printed onto the sheet like a monotype. Finally, Blake enhanced the print by hand with watercolor and ink.

Artist

William Blake

Date

ca. 1795

Medium

Relief etching, printed in color and finished with pen and ink and watercolor

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1916