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 drawing shows a chaotic, swirling mess of naked people tangled together. Some are floating, some are drowning, and one big group is wrapped in a giant wave. A lone figure stands on the shore, watching. The lines are all scratchy and layered, making dark shadows. The artist packed in tiny faces—some look scared, others lost. The messy lines and crowded scene feel like a nightmare. Want to see how artists used this scratchy line technique? Look up engraving.
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
See the richer artist page
