Explain Blake's invention of "illuminated printing" (MEG 102) (APPROACHES TO BLAKE's POETRY)

William Blake's "illuminated printing" was a method of combining text and image in a single work. Blake created this technique because he felt that traditional printing methods, which separated text and image, were too limiting for his artistic vision.

The process involved Blake first engraving the text and images onto copper plates. He then used a mixture of ink and watercolor to print the images and text together on paper. Blake often added further watercolor touches to the printed images, creating a unique and highly expressive work.

Blake's illuminated works are some of his most famous, including "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience." These collections contain a series of poems, each one accompanied by a corresponding image. In many cases, the text is incorporated into the image itself, rather than being printed separately below or above it.

Blake's illuminated works were highly innovative for his time, and they remain a unique and important contribution to the history of art and printing. They continue to inspire artists and poets today, as they demonstrate the potential for combining different artistic mediums to create a cohesive and powerful work.