The artwork titled “Minotaur,” created by William Blake, belongs to the Symbolism art movement and falls under the illustration genre. It is part of the series “Illustrations to Dante – The Divine Comedy.” This composition by Blake vividly interprets a scene from Dante Alighieri’s renowned epic poem, “The Divine Comedy,” infusing it with his emblematic symbolic style.
In the artwork, the viewer’s attention is captured by the central figure of the Minotaur, a mythological creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull, who appears in a dynamic pose, almost leaping or being thrust backward. The Minotaur’s expressive and somewhat tortured face adds a palpable sense of menace and turmoil. To the left of the composition, two ethereal human figures stand amidst swirling, smoky shapes, creating a dramatic contrast with the solid presence of the Minotaur. The scene is set against a background of mountainous terrain, contributing to the otherworldly atmosphere that Blake masterfully creates. The combination of human, mythical, and natural elements in this piece showcases Blake’s unique approach to illustrating Dante’s timeless literary work.