{"product_id":"man-attacked-by-dogs-and-a-devil-william-blake","title":"Man Attacked by Dogs and a Devil - William Blake","description":"\u003cp\u003eA dramatic engraving by William Blake from his 1797 series illustrating Edward Young's poem, Night Thoughts, depicting a struggle between a man, hounds, and a devil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engraving is a plate from William Blake's ambitious project to illustrate Edward Young's poem, Night Thoughts. Blake produced these designs between 1795 and 1797, creating a series of large-scale watercolours that were subsequently engraved for publication. The composition features a central text block surrounded by Blake's characteristic linear style, where the figures are defined by clear, firm outlines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scene depicts a dramatic, allegorical struggle. A human figure lies prostrate on the ground, beset by two hounds, while a grotesque, grinning devil looms over the victim, holding a spear. The devil's expression is one of malicious glee, contrasting with the desperate plight of the human figure below. Blake's approach to the human form is muscular and expressive, reflecting his interest in classical anatomy filtered through his own visionary lens. The surrounding foliage is rendered with repetitive, rhythmic strokes, creating a textured backdrop that frames the central action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake's work on Night Thoughts represents a significant period in his career, where he balanced his own poetic vision with the requirements of a commercial commission. The interplay between the printed text and the surrounding image creates a unified page design, a technique Blake refined throughout his life. The engraving captures the tension of the poem's themes regarding mortality, ambition, and the vanity of worldly pursuits. The stark contrast between the light-toned figures and the detailed, dark hatching of the background foliage demonstrates his mastery of the burin. This print offers a glimpse into the late eighteenth-century British approach to book illustration, where the visual and the literary were deeply intertwined.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-coronation-of-queen-victoria-john-martin\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Coronation of Queen Victoria - John Martin — John Martin\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/the-pontic-rhododendron-robert-john-thornton\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Pontic Rhododendron - Robert John Thornton — Robert John Thornton\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"William Blake","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58368362119503,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58368363626831,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58368363659599,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58368363692367,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58368363725135,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58368363757903,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58368363790671,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58368363823439,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58368363856207,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58368363888975,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58368363921743,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58368363954511,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Man-Attacked-by-Dogs-and-a-Devil_Poster_CompositorV1_1785664184587.jpg?v=1785665783","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/man-attacked-by-dogs-and-a-devil-william-blake","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}