The Circle of the Corrupt Officials; the Devils Tormenting Ciampolo
1827
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1827
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white engraving shows a struggling man being pulled down by four winged figures. The man’s face is twisted in pain, his arms stretched out like he’s being dragged. The winged beings have sharp claws and angry expressions, gripping him tightly. The ground looks rocky, and the whole scene feels chaotic and tense. The artist used a lot of cross-hatching—tiny parallel lines—to create shadows and texture, making the figures look almost three-dimensional. The title says this is about a man named Ciampolo being punished by demons, but the focus is more on the raw emotion and struggle. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Blake used this technique to tell dramatic stories.
