War (The Accusers of Theft, Adultery, Murder)

War (The Accusers of Theft, Adultery, Murder)

William Blake

1806

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white engraving shows three towering, ghostly figures standing close together. Their faces are twisted in anger or pain, and they’re labeled with crimes: *Theft*, *Adultery*, and *Murder*. The middle figure has its hands over its ears, while the others seem to be pointing or shouting. Their bodies are thin and bony, with rough, textured clothing that looks like it’s made of heavy fabric or metal. The title at the top, *The Accusers*, suggests these figures are blaming someone—or maybe humanity—for these sins. The artist used deep, crisscrossed lines to create shadows and drama, making the scene feel heavy and intense. If you like this style, check out the technique: engraving.

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