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William Blake
1795
Color print finished in pen and watercolor
Miscellaneous purchase funds
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Look
- Before showing the image, tell the story. Show the image and ask:
How does the image of Nebuchadnezzar compare with the image in your mind as the story was told?
No right answer
- What parts of the story of Nebuchadnezzar has Blake put into his PRINT?
The eagle-feather hair, the talon nails, crawling on all fours like an ox.
- Does the figure of Nebuchadnezzar look more like a man or a beast?
No right answer.
Which features are manlike?
Body structure and skin, facial features such as eyes, nose, mouth.
Which features are animal-like?
Hair, including facial hair, eagle talons on hands, crouched body posture and position of head seem unnatural for an upright human.
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- How has the artist made Nebuchadnezzar look strong?
Very muscular body.
How has he made Nebuchadnezzar look weak or afraid?
Facial expression, body posture.
- Describe the colors and lines Blake used throughout this
PRINT.
How do his choices of color and line associate the human figure with the surrounding landscape?
Same colors used for figure and landscape. The quality of lines: thickness, length, repeated lines that make up patterns, curves and direction of lines are similar in the figure and the landscape.
Think
- Was Nebuchadnezzar a real person?
Yes.
Does the story of Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel describe a real event?
No historical evidence to support the story.
Nebuchadnezzar's transformation into a beast was a punishment for mistreating his subjects. He "abused his power." Do you
think he deserved this punishment?
Why is abuse of power a bad thing?
Because the victims have no access to justice; there is no rule of law. Dictators are almost always overthrown because they abuse their absolute power. Think of Hitler, Mussolini, Ceausescu [recent dictator of Romania].
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