The artwork, titled “A white haired man in a long, pale robe who flees from us with his hands raised,” was created by William Blake in 1794. Executed through a combination of etching, ink, watercolor, and paper, the piece embodies the Symbolism art movement. The dimensions of the artwork are 18.1 x 24.5 cm, and it is categorized under the genre of illustration. Currently, it resides at the Yale Center for British Art at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
In the artwork, a central figure with flowing white hair and a long, pale robe is depicted fleeing away from the viewer, his hands raised in a gesture that suggests either supplication or fear. The blend of strong, dark colors and swirling lines conveys a sense of urgency or distress, consistent with Blake’s symbolic and often apocalyptic themes. The dynamic composition, with drapery swirling around the figure, enhances the illusion of movement and tension within the scene.