Know the Artist: William Blake Revisited

As is often the case with free-spirited visionaries, the weird and wonderful William Blake (British, 1757-1827) was largely disregarded during his lifetime. Now we celebrate his blazing genius, which kindled a fantastical mythos of divine beings, profound works of poetry, and some of the most brilliantly bizarre images in British art.
We’re delighted to present this video in collaboration with ‪@TheEsotericaChannel‬ where Dr. Justin Sledge explores the arcane realms of history, philosophy, and religion. Click the link below for Dr. Sledge’s investigation into the mystical forces that guided Blake.
• William Blake's Prophe...
#williamblake #britishartist #arthistory

[@TheArtTourist]

This episode’s Community Spotlight is on Manila-based multimedia artist Scifi Wasabi! Check out his Instagram at instagram.com/shoguntofu/

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Great working together on this visionary artist and prophet!

[@TheArtTourist]

So wonderful collaborating with you and learning about Blake's mythology and mysticism from your fantastic video!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

@@davidhays2846 Yep, It's a great channel - EducationTube Unite!

[@nathanjudy7705]

I love both of yall and it's so awesome to see this collab!!! Also always exciting to see more on William Blake.

[@lona.pouliuli-popoki]

🤙Aloha JJS mahalo for the introduction to Several Circles!!Having had a Perchocial education severely lacking ANY art history I am drinking this in. Truly a surprising void - given the vast number of New Testament inspired artworks

[@lynnmcmvt1815]

Glad to find this channel through Esoterica!

[@kityac9810]

As a person who didn't know much about Blake, this episode, and the companion on Esoterica, were incredibly fascinating. I'm definitely interested in Blake now and will check out his works. Thanks so much for this post.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much! We’re thrilled you enjoyed them. Blake was so prolific it’s dizzying…he’ll keep you occupied!

[@veronicasponchia5838]

Also came from Esoterica

[@seansersmylie]

Blake was a brilliant visonary but I wonder how mental health professionals would react to him if he were about today. I love his work, he was the ultimate 'outsider' artist. Another great video!

[@TheArtTourist]

He really was! Thanks so much 🙂

[@ekchen05]

I suddenly had William Blake on the brain when I was drawing today and then this video appeared at the top of my feed. I’ve been a fan of his work ever since I learned about the divine comedy and saw his illustrations for it. His style really suits the disturbing yet divine present in the inferno. His visions are fascinating. Great vid :)

[@TheArtTourist]

Same wavelength! His illustrations for the Divine Comedy are some of my favorites too. Thanks for watching! ✨

[@davidminken4094]

"Truth has bounds, Error none..." That one line from The Book of Los has stuck with me for over 30 years.

[@ImmolationVenus666]

I appreciate William Blake's work honestly and it's understandable to not only admire the work of such great artists like him but to be inspired

[@capneyeball575]

Oh thank you 🙏 It’s always a such a treat when you reveal a new video. As with all of your work, this was brilliant, delightful, and very informative ❤

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much!! ✨

[@jaxobophiuchi676]

A Compleat Artist. The marriage of Image and Text with a firm visionary praxis set a bar for future artists to reach. Few have taken it in their grips. Thanks for putting this together. And thanks Esoterica for turning us on to this wonderful channel!

[@uzzielfontan2338]

This collaboration was awesome! I loved this revision on Blake as I watched the first video you did on him! Thank you for going more in deph about his works and his inspiration as well! Great channel 🙌

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks for the kind words! ✨

[@src3360]

I have several versions of a tarot deck with his art on it. I think they are beautiful paintings. Im always excited when someone knows who he is!!

[@TheArtTourist]

Awesome! His work is perfect for tarot decks ✨

[@jimnewcombe7584]

I want one! 😅

[@TheMrsWarhol]

I just LOVE your videos!!! Your breadth of knowledge and beautiful narration are sublime. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you thank you!! We so appreciate you watching 🙂

[@MADGuy248]

Came from Dr Sledge’s channel and is delighted to find this great video and channel! I’m trained as an art historian/historian of visual and material culture, but I rarely encounter art history themed channels that draws a said world to the wider environment and thinking, giving credits to the intellectual spirit of the artists, and even draw spotlight onto a contemporary artist in practice?! This is a happy exception. You’ve earned a new sub and please keep up the good work 😊

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much!! ✨

[@jimbrittain402]

Yay! Another Several Circles video - you never disappoint!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!! ✨✨

[@SeekersofUnity]

Here from Esoterica. Wonderful work.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!!

[@maestroh2986]

Your presentation is always insightful, polished, and wonderful.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you very much!

[@JulioAvalos3000]

Thank you for the wonderful video.

[@gregmcevoy1]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[@artawhirler]

Excellent video about a complicated subject! Thanks!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for watching!

[@patrickhamos2987]

whatever else in the productions, some of the things i dont like but, your narration really is fantastic. that's not something I say about very many people at all. it's admirable. really shines here.

[@PoliticalFuturism]

Came here from Esoterica. Love your work, I subscribed after watching a few videos

[@MiggsMultiple]

Your channel is an absolute pleasure and is very appreciated.

[@postmanpat2964]

This channel is such a gem

[@christopherall1004]

Coming from Esoterica's video, big fan of that channel btw, so far I love this one a lot too! I'm no artist but I appreciate it

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much!✨No need to be an artist yourself to appreciate it 🙂 Our endeavor here is to speak to the artist as a fellow human. Understanding a little bit more about who they were and what they experienced can create a deeper connection to their work.

[@justincurll1110]

The more I learn about Blake, the more I feel that he was the most important artist of the modern age.

[@ArmourLad]

Based Blake.

[@colinmcom14]

Really cool episode. Just got into Blake’s art in the last few years. Thanks for the info.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks for watching!

[@craftinganewworld1674]

This was fun to watch and W. Blake is a very fascinating human.

[@nilkoken9928]

This was so beautiful! I wish you made a video about Bonnard's life and art too.

[@TheArtTourist]

Love Bonnard! He’s on the list 🙂

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Awesome revelatory world introduction hopping in from Justin Sledge's Esoterica. I wouldn't have known I would be diving headlong into Blake before now.

[@TheArtTourist]

His work is definitely a fantastical rabbit hole!

[@Drew_Hurst]

Excellent video... Shows the power and beauty of "knowing Thyself"! William was a realized-soul. 🕉🕊🙏

[@TheArtTourist]

Perfectly said! ✨

[@EyeSea]

Captivating from beginning to end! What a mind Blake possessed 💫

[@TheArtTourist]

He was extraordinary!✨Thank you for watching!

[@BillyMcBride]

D.H. Lawrence said once that we should trust the tale but not the teller, but I trust you, and I love what you have done here. I am a great fan of Blake, he brings so much meaning to my own silly life with his paintings, which Harold Bloom likens to Michelangelo's style, but especially his poetry moves me as it does so many others. My favorite poem of his is "London," but of his longer ones, it is "Jerusalem." But he has many many memorable poems I know and love and trust. I too have Angels with whom I talk, and write about, which is a practice I picked up from Blake. He liberates in this way, so I am grateful for him and his spirit and spirits. Be well, and thank you for narrating Blake's tale so elegantly.

[@TheArtTourist]

Love this! You're so right, he does liberate. Thank you for watching!

[@susansilverstream3811]

I love William Blake; his Poetry and Visual Arts! ✨️🌟✨️🕊💜🕊🌹

[@johnrock2173]

What a great site. Thankyou for the Blake overview. I have a Leonora carrington request. Of course. Look forward to watching all your posts!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you! Carrington’s very much on our list :)

[@akinokusami3623]

Awesome video.....as always!❤️

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you!! ✨

[@dougg1075]

Enjoyed that. Love his style

[@kebbee]

Thank you! So good!

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you for watching!

[@LukeSilverstar1000]

Excellent video. I’ve followed Esoterica for a while and found your channel through it. I’m not much of an artist but I’ve always enjoyed learning about art and artists that interest me. Blake is one I’ve known about for a while and admired his works, but I didn’t know a whole lot about him. This was just the perfect amount of information. Incidentally, I very much enjoy the painting of the cat with the orange in the background. Would you mind sharing details about it?

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much! We’re thrilled that you enjoyed it ✨ I wish I had details to share about the cat painting! I fell madly in love with it at a flea market, especially because the cat looks like our Jimmy, who often makes a cameo in our videos :) It’s signed “Harris” but I haven’t been able to figure out who the specific artist is and when it was made 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@karlsengupta7185]

By the way...For those wishing to deepen their knowledge of Blake, check out the Norton Critical Edition volume on Blake. It contains commentary, historical background, responses by his contemporaries, and essays by contemporary scholars.

[@sky44david]

This is the most well researched and "on point" presentations on the Visionary Artist/Poet William Blake. It is interesting to note that during his time accepted oil painting was based on perspective and its use in opaque representational narrative (landscape to figuration). Blake largely used transparent watercolor layering to build a "Visionary World" that is beyond or deeper than conventional narrative representation. His ability to tell multiple levels of meaning with both the translucent layering of the watercolor images combine with the poetic vision of his use of language. The "light" of the white paper surface shines through (even in the darker works) in the translucent layering of the watercolor images he painted. He was a master of watercolor technique that is so unique it is beyond comparison.

[@TheArtTourist]

Great point, thank you for adding! In the course of my research I read somewhere that one of the reasons why Blake staged his own exhibition was because there was institutional prejudice against watercolors at the time.

[@brabdnon]

Thanks to you and Justin I may or may not have dropped a small stack on some Blake at local independent bookstore, so thanks for the inspiration.

[@TheArtTourist]

Totally worth it! 🙂

[@carnation963]

A great look at Blake! I absolutely love this channel. I was wondering if you could look into doing a video on Vali Myers.

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you! We’ll have to check her out!

[@WWS322]

I have seen your station before and another video by you on Blake's thought and pictures. I have been studying Blake all my life and would know everything if not for intervening voices. I suffer from schizophrenia and Blake interests me for many reasons among of which is his awareness of divisions within the human being and unity.

[@carloshuante8508]

Great stuff..and a big inspiration for me…in my bag of artists that matter

[@davidhogan621]

Wow! What an interesting video. So many unanswered questions it raises though. Will you be doing something on the "Ancients"? Please. ♥

[@TheArtTourist]

Eventually!!

[@DiegoPereyra]

Beautiful.

[@faulrevere8938]

Fantastic video on a most fascinating and inspiring artist for the ages...BRAVO🙏

[@skeeterboombaty]

Like, oh youre cool with Esoterica? Well then, I know the quality of this channel is HIGH. What a wonderful video.

[@smidlem1117]

this is a wonderful episode but on a technical note if you aren't doing it already do consider putting your through audio through a noise gate or something, the hiss that emerges alongside your recording is legitimately distracting!! that said definitely subscribing and am curious to see more!!

[@85percentcocoa]

thank you!

[@anandg5843]

"Art is the tree of life Science is the tree of death" Very captivating thought

[@thylacinenv]

Delightful as always. It was my misfortune to attend an amateur student rock musical on the life of Wiiliam Blake, two hours of mind numbing and very loud banality. Finally escaped to the pub for a well deserved beer when one of the actresses suddenly appeared, "arnt you coming back for the second half?" You mean there's more...aaaarrrhhh.... time for a sharp exit!

[@TheArtTourist]

Ah! Unideal! 😂 Thank you for watching our (hopefully less bombastic) bio

[@hristiana.bobeva]

Truly mesmerizing video! Thank you!!! ❤I have a few all time favourite channels about art and yours has just become one of them. 🎨Can you, please, share the artist and the name of the painting in the background? 🐈‍⬛

[@ct2530]

Awesome. Also, amazing necklace :D

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks! 👁️

[@karlsengupta7185]

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode; it took me back to my undergraduate days...I took a class on William Blake, and my professor was married to the head of the Blake Library. Your episode is concise, accurate, and enjoyable. Bravo! (One little suggestion: Avoid language that undermines the loftiness of the ideas under discussion...I have taught rhetoric, and that one word wasn't apropos of the subject, Blake, or the target audience.)

[@TheArtTourist]

Many thanks! Which word are you referring to?

[@karlsengupta7185]

@@TheArtTourist I'm sorry if this makes me seem a prude, but "pissed him off" is unbecoming to this video. The language should reflect the vitality and sublimity of the ideas you're relating. The content is wonderful, truly!--And so, too, should be the means by which you express these ideas. Does this make sense?

[@els1f]

Okay, but Scifi Wasabi is the greatest name ever! This video made me so happy♥️ I got into Blake after hearing about him as a teenager through Marilyn Manson lol

[@TheArtTourist]

Isn’t it?! That’s awesome…we’re so glad you enjoyed it!

[@asapfilms2519]

William Blake is to art what I want to become in Filmmaking.

[@Kay-kg6ny]

Awwww yesssss, another one!!

[@charleswood2182]

Thank you.

[@EdgarTheOgre]

William Blake was as metal as they get. That is why I tattooed The Tyger poem on my chest.

[@davnDaum]

🔥FANTASTIC🔥

[@TheNewYear75]

YES such a brilliant artist

[@neilpiper9889]

Blake wrote the words to Jerusalem which was put to music by Parry and has become the unofficial national anthem of England and is played at the Last night of the promenade concerts in the Albert Hall London

[@emmar9104]

The movie "Dead Man" by Jim Jarmusch is a lovely trip that's littered with more and less obvious william blake references :)

[@TheArtTourist]

Great movie! 🍿

[@michaelworkman4057]

I think the man hungrily eyeing the empty cup speaks to the human need for reflection, i.e., if some water had been left he could have reflected upon himself, and failing to do so earlier perhaps led to some gluttony. On the other hand, it can also refer to emptiness of inherent form, and the way the self is like water. In either case perhaps the solution for "bloodthirstiness" of whatever kind is reflection upon this condition and its causes, and realizing that pain can be a force that plunges us into worse situations when we try too hard to escape it, or a helpful teacher who can give us clarity and wisdom when we accept that it's part of life.

[@nelsonx5326]

A very original artist.

[@OurBrainHurtsALot]

Thanks a lot for the presentation, but what's the name of the background music? Wow!

[@TheArtTourist]

It doesn’t really have a name. Just something we made to go along with the videos. You can listen to it here if you like. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGm6oGeVj7xrl6M

[@kaloarepo288]

Blake's art looks like a precursor to the modern comic book style of art!

[@TheArtTourist]

A perfectly fair assessment! 🦸‍♂️

[@leeshiflett1863]

Badass!

[@lona.pouliuli-popoki]

💫 Aloha Several Circles Wonderful upload I'm new and learning so much, mahalo. Plzzz forgive me but I must know is the painting on your wall a portrait of Jimmy your cat done by you?

[@TheArtTourist]

Thank you so much, we’re thrilled to hear that! ✨ The painting’s not of Jimmy but it does look just like him, doesn’t it! We found it at a flea market and fell in love 😻

[@lona.pouliuli-popoki]

@@TheArtTourist I would have too it's fantastic I often edit and lose my 💛 from youtubers' replies but I catch them in my emails 💫💫💫

[@user-wy9sz5om8f]

Can you please tell the name of the melody in the background🙏🏻 Can’t get it out of my head…

[@TheArtTourist]

It’s just something we whipped up for our videos.

[@jacobk9479]

I LOVE YOUR CONTENT

[@TheArtTourist]

Thanks so much! 🙂

[@Xxxxxrrr6464]

Thanks

[@johnburman966]

May I suggest that Blake had a message for humanity and happened to express it artistically. At the other extreme a modern mystic named Peace Pilgrim ( find on You tube) did it by her activity, but essentially the idea is the same. When we are open to it.....life is divine.

[@TheArtTourist]

Yes! Perfectly said ✨

[@justincurll1110]

If only Blake knew how cool Newton actually was.

[@nicolawebb6025]

I thought that. To dismiss science as uncreative seems misguided. However, to contemporaries there was genuine fear of what these scientific principles would do to the world

[@SimonPaxton_VO]

"What is the Price of Experience?" has to be one of Blake's greatest poems. Timeless, thought-provoking and powerful - like so much of his masterly work, it reminds us of life's injustices and the need to face them. Simon Paxton has recorded it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bni5ZJqnra15aMU

[@zacharysmall8336]

Could you consider doing a video on Degas?

[@TheArtTourist]

Absolutely!

[@nicolawebb6025]

I find it astounding that a working class 18th C boy with little education became 'William Blake'. We put so much emphasis on education being the only route to success these days that we have lost touch, perhaps, with our inner abilities. Not that I think we should reject education.

[@michaelbenenson]

Though I'm not enthralled by Blake's style, I much appreciate your cross-section documentary. I assume that Dali must have doffed his hat to WB - is that the case? I'd be grateful for any info/evidence other than stylistic pointers.

[@TheArtTourist]

I’ll have to look into that! Seems like a fair association, Blake could be seen as a proto-Surrealist for the way his visions and dreams informed his art, and Dalí also tackled some of the same symbols and motifs.

[@Ammon6]

He was amazing, also his friend Henry Fussli was great

[@TheArtTourist]

YES we’re so excited to make a video about Fuseli soon!

[@Ammon6]

@@TheArtTourist I'll wait patiently. By the way, you guys are doing a great job. Please continue 👏👏👏

[@TheArtTourist]

@@Ammon6 Thank you for saying that! We will :)

[@Ammon6]

@@TheArtTouristYou are welcome, it is just the truth.

[@LordBornfree]

💖💖

[@minbannister3625]

Illustration IS art.

[@TheArtTourist]

Agreed!

[@ChristianSt97]

time to do caspar david friedrich. thank you

[@TheArtTourist]

It probably is, isn't it!

[@willatkinson141]

Totally

CAn you do an Antoni Tapiés video?

[@TheArtTourist]

One day!

[@toddjacksonpoetry]

I like to think I'm walking a path parallel to, or cousin to, his. With Greek Gods; I guess that counts as "being enslaved by another man's" system, oh well. London was of course a huge city, but I can't help but suspect he'd have known or heard of Thomas Taylor.

[@davidlemire2467]

John Singer Sargent, please.

[@TheArtTourist]

Great suggestion! He’s one of our favorites and definitely on the list

[@richardarthurmusic]

Did you do The Female Art Gaze?

[@jessemills4956]

Her necklace reminds me of the Illuminati. William Blake - great poet. I have his complete (poetry) works. A very inspirational man.

[@TheArtTourist]

It’s a “lover’s eye”!

[@jessemills4956]

@@TheArtTourist I like it :)

[@jessemills4956]

@@TheArtTourist You guys should do a review on John Singer Sargent (Whom has a new Masterworks book coming out early next year) or Sorolla - is another great artist, if you haven't already. I've been getting into them lately, among others. I'm not sure if you guys like modern artists? But if you haven't checked out or heard of the Art of Patrick J. Jones. You definitely should! He's really good. ;) You guys do such a great job covering such amazing and talented artists. I hope someday to share my work with y'all. Cheers!

[@TheArtTourist]

@@jessemills4956 thank you!✨We’ve been talking about a Sargent video for ages so he’s definitely coming up soon. And love Sorolla! Would love to do an episode about him as well :)

[@jazw4649]

Vocal Fry 🤦‍♀️ I can't get past it.

[@TheArtTourist]

🤷🏻‍♀️

[@boblangill6209]

Blake is often labelled anti-rational, anti-empiricist. That's why I find a poem from his notebooks to be a wonderful fusion of antagonistic notions. It closes with Doubt Doubt & dont believe without experiment That is the very thing that Jesus meant When he said Only Believe Believe & try Try Try & never mind the Reason why

[@Pre_industrial]

The Fall - W.B

[@charlotteobable]

Came here after directions from Justin.

[@TheArtTourist]

Welcome!

[@ambiguousrat26]

bro was magnificent

[@TheArtTourist]

Indeed he was!

[@JClay-lf7nx]

Art is the tree of life. Science is the tree of death.

[@YouCanCallMe-X]

00:00

[@Heavy-P]

Eye see that necklace.

[@TheArtTourist]

A little nod to Blake the visionary! 👁 ✨

[@bobsmith-hd2hi]

lol... small world

[@a_lucientes]

AJL SMUGMUG BLAKE ARCHIVE