{"product_id":"man-startled-by-a-bearded-man-with-a-bell-william-blake-1","title":"Man Startled by a Bearded Man with a Bell - William Blake","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking engraving by William Blake from his 1797 illustrations for Edward Young's poem, Night Thoughts, exploring themes of mortality and time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engraving originates from William Blake's ambitious project to illustrate Edward Young's poem, Night Thoughts. Published in 1797, the series represents a significant moment in British printmaking, where Blake combined his own visionary style with the text of the popular eighteenth-century poem. The composition features a central figure, an elderly man with a long, flowing beard, who appears to startle a younger man lying below. The older figure holds a bell, a symbol often associated with the tolling of death or the passage of time, which aligns with the themes of mortality and spiritual reflection found in Young's verse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake's approach to the page layout is distinctive. He integrated the text block directly into the design, allowing the imagery to wrap around the printed words. The figure of the bearded man possesses a monumental quality, his hair and beard rendered with fine, flowing lines that suggest movement and ethereal presence. The younger man, shown in a state of alarm, provides a contrast in scale and posture. The inclusion of an hourglass on the table to the left further reinforces the memento mori theme, reminding the viewer of the fleeting nature of human existence. The monochromatic palette, typical of the engravings in this series, focuses the viewer's attention on the draftsmanship and the dramatic interaction between the two figures. This work provides a clear example of Blake's ability to interpret complex poetic themes through his own unique visual language, creating a dialogue between the written word and the graphic image.\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\/mariano-ceballos-rijdend-op-een-stier-francisco-de-goya\" 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;\"\u003eMariano Ceballos rijdend op een stier - Francisco de Goya — Francisco Goya\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/portrait-of-grand-duchess-olga-nikolaevna-karl-bryullov\" 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;\"\u003ePortrait of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna - Karl Bryullov — Karl Bryullov\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":58363750482255,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58363765326159,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58363765358927,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58363765391695,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58363765424463,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58363765457231,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58363765489999,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58363765522767,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58363765555535,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58363765588303,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58363765621071,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58363765653839,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Man-Startled-by-a-Bearded-Man-with-a-Bell_Poster_CompositorV1_1785592305484.jpg?v=1785594270","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/man-startled-by-a-bearded-man-with-a-bell-william-blake-1","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}