Why does William Blake’s work resonate today? A UCLA art historian offers perspective
William Blake is having a moment in Los Angeles. A highly regarded exhibition at the Getty Center — a Los Angeles Times critic called it “unexpected and timely” — showcases more than 100 of his paintings, prints and poems, from all stages of his career. So why is it that a British artist who died nearly two centuries ago remains so vital today? According to Zirwat Chowdhury, a UCLA art history professor, Blake engages deeply with the themes of war and science. His work is grounded in the context of upheaval — first, the French Revolution, and later, the Napoleonic Wars….