Boy Returning Joyfully with Plough and Oxen

1821

William Blake

Associated Names
William Blake

Artist, British, 1757 - 1827

This is a drawing of several figures and an animal in a pastoral setting. The artwork is a black and white drawing set against a plain page, featuring a small group of figures standing together in a natural landscape. The figures are detailed with flowing garments, and there is an animal with prominent horns among them. In the background, subtle line work suggests a landscape with elevated terrain or hills, with possibly a sun or a moon partially visible behind the horizon, emitting rays that fill the scene with a sense of distance and depth. The figures and setting combine to evoke a story or theme of pastoral life.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    wood engraving

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.1865

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Bindman 1978, no. 617

Associated Artworks

See all 17 artworks
The image shows two figures with sheep in a pastoral setting. The figures are standing in a landscape with sheep around them. One figure holds a staff and leans on a tree, while the other stands with a gesture. The background shows a bright area hinting at either a sunrise or sunset over distant hills. The scene is depicted in a style resembling classic woodcut illustrations in black and white.

Thenot and Colinet

William Blake

1821

The image shows a textured green surface with a subtle pattern. The surface appears flat and uniformly colored, resembling a cover. The corners and edges are slightly visible, indicating a rectangular shape.

The Pastorals of Virgil

William Blake

1821

This is a drawing of an open book with figures in a landscape setting. The central image is a monochromatic drawing depicting a scene with an open book in the center, surrounded by two figures. One figure stands on each side, holding up their arms. The background features a landscape including hills and a tree on the right. The use of line and shading creates a dramatic scene, focusing the viewer's attention on the interaction between the figures and the book. The composition is bordered by a golden rectangle.

Thenot Remonstrates with Colinet

William Blake

1821

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1988

  • The Pastoral Landscape: The Modern Vision, The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C., 1988-1989, no. 85, fig. 170.

Bibliography

1978

  • Bindman, David. The Complete Graphic Works of William Blake. London: Thames and Hudson, 1978.

Wikidata ID

Q64962789

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