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Songs of innocence

Blake, William, 1757-1827, Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection (Library of Congress) · 1789 · [London] 1789. · 24 pictures

Songs of Innocence is a London illustrated poetry collection by William Blake, printed in 1789 for a general readership of poetry and print lovers. Its pages pair hand-coloured relief etchings of poems with flowing vine-like borders, text set within the image, and soft watercolour washes of green, blue and ochre. A designer can draw on the organic, hand-lettered integration of verse and ornament, with trailing foliage framing small pastoral scenes.

England · London

Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division · No known copyright restrictions · More from this library