William Blake (1757 - 1827). William Blake was a visionary English poet, painter, and printmaker. He was a key figure in the Romantic movement, known for his unique blend of poetry and visual art. Blake often explored mystical and spiritual themes, drawing inspiration from the Bible, mythology, and his own personal experiences. He was influenced by the works of William Hogarth and Albrecht Durer. Hogarth's satirical engravings and social commentary resonated with Blake's desire to expose societal ills. Durer's detailed engravings and woodcuts also inspired Blake's work. His watercolor Gambols of Ghosts sold in 2013 at Sotheby's for $722,000. Blake's paintings include The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun (Brooklyn Museum), a dramatic and apocalyptic vision, and Ancient of Days (Manchester, England, Whitworth Art Gallery), a powerful and mystical image of God creating the universe. Blake often combined text and image in his works, creating complex and layered pieces that reflected his philosophical and spiritual ideas. Blake's visual art is known for its vivid and imaginative style, which often featured bold colors, intricate designs, and fantastical figures. He worked in a variety of mediums, including watercolor, engraving, and relief etching, a technique he developed himself. Some of Blake's most famous works as an artist include Satan Smiting Job and Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing. His illustrations for his own poems, such as Songs of Innocence and of Experience, are also highly regarded for their innovative use of visual and poetic language. Blake's art was not widely recognized during his lifetime, and he struggled financially throughout his career. However, his influence on later generations of artists and writers has been significant, and he is now widely regarded as a visionary and innovative figure in the history of Western art.William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. What he called his prophetic works were said by 20th-century critic Northrop Frye to form what is in proportion to its merits the least read body of poetry in the English language. His visual artistry led 21st-century critic Jonathan Jones to proclaim him far and away the greatest artist Britain has ever produced. In 2002, Blake was placed at number 38 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.