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A Resurrection Scene (The Gambols of Ghosts) [recto]

William Blake

1806

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

A Resurrection Scene (The Gambols of Ghosts) [recto] is a 1806 graphite by William Blake, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: William Blake
When & what style?: 1806 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows ghostly figures floating in the air, some with outstretched arms and others tangled in loose, swirling lines. The shapes are rough and sketchy, almost like quick notes rather than a finished drawing. There’s a sense of movement, with one figure reaching upward and another leaning toward the ground. The drawing feels urgent, like the artist was capturing a fleeting moment. The loose lines and lack of detail make it look more like a study than a polished work. Next, look up Blake, William to see how his other sketches compare.