1820
graphite
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
An Ascending Spiral of Figures [recto] is a 1820 graphite by William Blake, a Romanticism work, depicting Avalokitesvara, held at National Gallery of Art.
You see a swirling crowd of tiny figures climbing upward in a spiral. Their faces are simple lines, no details. The paper looks old and fragile. The whole scene feels both crowded and light, like they’re floating. This isn’t a finished painting. It’s a quick sketch. Blake used graphite to draw fast, maybe to test an idea. The lines bend and loop without stopping. Turn left to find Blake’s *Ancient of Days* at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
![Standing Figure [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/3089b1e67635ba44/thumb.webp)
