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 engraving shows a chaotic scene of swirling bodies tangled in what looks like stormy clouds. A large group of figures—some standing, others floating—clutch at each other in a messy knot. In the top right, a small circle frames a lone figure sitting calmly, while below, more bodies writhe in the air or sink into the churning mass. The artist used deep shadows and sharp lines to make the movement feel dramatic and restless. The figures’ faces are blurred, making them look more like emotions than people. Next, check out how engraving works to create such intense textures.
William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker.
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