Dream of Thiralatha [from "America," cancelled plate d]

William Blake

Relief etching, color-printed (with hand-coloring)

National Gallery of Art

This mesmerizing relief etching depicts a giant sleeping beneath a bent tree, rendered in Blake's revolutionary color-printing technique that combines ethereal imagery with hand-applied watercolors. Created by William Blake (1757-1827), the visionary English poet and artist who spent his entire life in London, this print was originally intended for his prophetic book "America a Prophecy" but was cancelled and later issued as a separate plate. The work exemplifies Blake's unique ability to merge the physical and spiritual worlds, making it a captivating piece that brings Romantic mysticism and artistic innovation into any home.