In Songs of Innocence and of Experience, William Blake paired his poetry with several beautiful illustrations such as Titania and Oberon. In this work, both Innocence and Experience symbolize human consciousness, of maturing, whether it be from celebrating innocence or falling from innocence. Through other works like this, Blake inspired many artists and writers through his poetry and his depictions. And despite his oddities, he remains one of humanity’s most prominent writers.

William Blake was born on November 28th, 1757. Throughout his childhood, Blake’s father had given him various drawings from Greece as sources of inspiration and exposed him to the works of Albrecht Dürer and Michelangelo. When he turned ten, he attended a drawing school. Eventually, he became an apprentice to James Basire, who helped him further his career as a printmaker. Years later, he attended the Royal Academy, where he rebelled against the president for forcing them to study what he considered to be to narrow to characterize the human psyche. He went on to create illustrations for the Book of Job, Milton, and even Dante's Divine Comedy.  He later died on August 12th, 1827, where he decided to draw a portrait of his own wife, whom he said was an angel to him.

William Blake was a prominent figure in the Romantic movement. Not only was he an excellent printmaker, but he was also considered a radical. He was a Christian who didn’t like organized religion and was a supporter of both the American and French Revolutions. Though he did reject most of these political beliefs in time, ironically enough, he retained a close relationship with Thomas Paine, a writer who supported the American Revolution.

Through his status as a printmaker, he was able to illustrate some of today’s most famous novels. He was even able to edit and write some of his own, such as the aforementioned Songs of Innocence and of Experience and Divine Comedy. Though he was against organized religion, he still used Christian themes in a majority of his works. Many museums feature his works as well, such as The Ashmolean Museum and The Morgan Library & Museum.

Whether it be through drawings or stories, William Blake has carved himself a place in the literary world. His prestigious reputation has followed him, even after his death. Many critics have praised his works, some of which even include the likes of G.E. Bentley Jr. and S. Foster Damon. The Modernist period only served to enhance his reputation and inspired other creators such as William Butler Yeats. Many have even compared Blake to psychologists such as Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud. After World War II, Blake's legacy helped lay the foundation for mainstream culture, including graphic novels, music, and film. Despite the fact he wasn’t a trained novelist, nor did he have as many literary accomplishments as his other colleagues, he is one of the few Romantic writers that were able to influence modern artistry in a way that many writers could only dream of.