William Blake

William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Unrecognised during his lifetime, he is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age. Known for his 'prophetic works' and idiosyncratic views, Blake was often deemed mad by contemporaries. His work, celebrated for its expressiveness, creativity, and philosophical and mystical depths, was characteristic of the Romantic and 'Pre-Romantic' movements. Despite his influence by the French and American revolutions and figures like Thomas Paine and Emanuel Swedenborg, Blake's unique approach to art and theology makes him a figure that eludes easy classification.