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Unknown subject (Let Him look up into the Heaven and laugh in the bright air)

William Blake

1805

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

Dominant colour

Unknown subject (Let Him look up into the Heaven and laugh in the bright air) is a 1805 ink by William Blake, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: William Blake
When & what style?: 1805 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows two figures in a rocky, stormy landscape. One person is hunched over, holding something to their face, while the other stands taller, reaching upward. Above them, jagged clouds swirl and dark shapes loom like monsters. Below, simple symbols—like a triangle and a circle—float against a flat line. The artist used sharp lines and heavy shading to make the scene feel rough and intense. The figures’ faces are blurred, but their postures scream emotion. Next, check out etching to see how this technique creates such dramatic textures.