Who painted Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy"?

Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy" was painted by William Blake in 1793.

Where can I see Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy"?

Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy" is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy"?

Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy" is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy"?

Museum-quality prints of Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy" are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy"

William Blake , 1793

Restrike from fragment of cancelled plate for "A Prophecy" is an ink print by the Romanticist artist William Blake. It dates from 1793 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

You can learn more about this style and its artists, like William Blake, who created this work in 1793.

This painting shows a dark, textured surface with white lines and shapes. The lines are wavy and irregular, forming abstract patterns. In the center, there are words written in a flowing script, but they are hard to read.

The words seem to be a poem or quote, but the handwriting is messy and unclear. The background is a solid dark color, which makes the white lines stand out.

This painting is an example of Romanticism, a style that emphasizes emotion and imagination. You can learn more about this style and its artists, like William Blake, who created this work in 1793.

Overview

Created in 1793, this relief etching is a restrike taken from a fragment of a plate Blake had previously cancelled for his work titled “A Prophecy.” The image presents a dark, textured ground over which stark white, wavering lines and irregular shapes emerge, intersected by a central band of flowing, nearly illegible script. The composition exemplifies Blake’s characteristic blend of visual and textual invention.

Subject & Meaning

The central script, though difficult to decipher, suggests a poetic or prophetic utterance, aligning the piece with Blake’s broader series of “prophetic works.” The abstract, swirling lines evoke a sense of visionary turbulence, reinforcing themes of revelation and inner revelation that permeate his mythic narratives.

Technique & Style

Blake employed his distinctive relief etching method, carving the design on a copper plate and then inking it with a simple gelatin roller rather than a traditional press. This approach yields a high-contrast surface where the ink adheres unevenly, producing the work’s characteristic textured darkness punctuated by luminous white markings.

History & Provenance

Originally part of a larger plate intended for “A Prophecy,” the fragment was cancelled and later re‑used for this restrike. Though Blake’s prints were little known during his lifetime, the piece survived in private collections before entering public holdings, where it now serves as a tangible example of his experimental print practice.

Context

The etching belongs to the Romantic period, a movement that prized emotional intensity, imagination, and the sublime. Blake’s integration of poetic text and visual symbolism places him at the forefront of this era, influencing subsequent literary and artistic developments despite his contemporary obscurity.