1827
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Circle of the Lustful: Paolo and Francesca is a 1827 ink by William Blake, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows a chaotic, swirling scene of naked figures tangled together. Some float in the air, others drown in water, and a few stand alone. The lines are sharp and busy, with dark shadows and light spots. The artist packed a lot into this small space—hell, love, and drowning all mixed up. The tiny circle at the top shows a calm, happy couple, but the rest is pure chaos. Want to see how artists used this technique to tell wild stories? Check out engraving.
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
See the richer artist page
