{"product_id":"night-the-third-narcissa-william-blake","title":"Night the Third, Narcissa - William Blake","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original engraving by William Blake from his 1797 series illustrating Edward Young's poem, Night Thoughts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engraving originates from William Blake's ambitious project to illustrate Edward Young's poem, The Complaint, and the Consolation; or, Night Thoughts. Commissioned by the publisher Richard Edwards in 1795, the project resulted in a series of designs that Blake etched and engraved himself. This specific plate serves as the title page for the third section of the poem, titled Narcissa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition features a central rectangular text block, which frames the title of the section. Surrounding this block is a large, sinuous serpent that coils around the perimeter. A female figure, representing the titular Narcissa, is depicted in a state of ethereal ascension. Her form is elongated and graceful, with her arms raised towards the top of the frame. She appears to be supported by the serpent, which acts as a structural element within the design. The contrast between the dark, textured body of the serpent and the luminous, pale figure of the woman creates a visual tension characteristic of Blake's work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake's approach to the Night Thoughts project was highly personal. He often moved beyond literal interpretations of the text, choosing instead to create symbolic imagery that reflected his own spiritual and philosophical concerns. The serpent, a recurring motif in his visual vocabulary, often carries connotations of the material world or the cycle of life and death. By placing the figure of Narcissa in such close proximity to this creature, Blake invites the viewer to consider the relationship between human mortality and the infinite. The fine line work and the delicate shading demonstrate his technical proficiency as an engraver, allowing for a subtle play of light and shadow that gives the image a dreamlike quality. This print offers a glimpse into the collaborative nature of eighteenth-century literary production, where text and image were intended to function as a unified experience for the reader.\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\/view-of-the-beach-at-beverly-massachusetts-john-frederick-kensett\" 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;\"\u003eView of the Beach at Beverly, Massachusetts - John Frederick Kensett — John Frederick Kensett\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/haphazard-james-ward\" 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;\"\u003eHaphazard - James Ward — James Ward\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":58367354700111,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58367356207439,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58367356240207,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58367356272975,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58367356305743,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58367356338511,"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":58367356371279,"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":58367356404047,"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":58367356436815,"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":58367356469583,"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":58367356502351,"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":58367356535119,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Night-the-Third-Narcissa_Poster_CompositorV1_1785631027648.jpg?v=1785632607","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/night-the-third-narcissa-william-blake","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}