HO Ka Yu talks on Blake Sir Isaac Newton 1795

1) INTRODUCE THE DRAWING IN GENERAL TERMS
•What is the title of the drawing?
The title of the drawing called "Sir Isaac Newton "


•What is the name of the artist?
The name of the artist named  William Blake.

•What is the year the drawing was done?
The drawing was finished in the year of 1795

•What is the medium? (ie the materials used to produce the picture, for example charcoal on paper, pen and ink etc)
It was a monotype which was finished with color print with pen & ink and watercolour.  

•What is the subject matter or general theme of the work? (eg is it a figure drawing, a map, a portrait, an autobiographical work, a picture about nature, a drawing of the city etc?) 

It is a figure drawing which portrays Isaac Newton sitting naked and crouched on a rocky outcropping covered with algae, apparently at the bottom of the sea.

•What is the purpose of the drawing? (eg Is it a diagram that explains how something works? Does it record accurately record the appearance of something? Does it express the artist's emotion or memory? )

This work shows the artist’s dislike of scientific enquiry.


2) DESCRIBE THE DRAWING IN DETAIL

•How is line used? What does it do/express? 
The lines of the sea-flowers indicates they are floating and these shows the background is under the sea.
And the uneven distribution of lines on the rocks also shows the uneven distribution of algae.

•How is tone used? What does it do/express? 
In dark tone. To express Isaac Newton is sitting under the deep blue sea. 

•What can you say about shape and/or form in this picture? What is the effect?
The lines show us the texture. Without these lines, we cannot recognize there is a rock and sea-flowers. Also, the dark color used to outline Isaac's body muscle, which makes/express Isaac is a three-dimensional object in the painting. Moreover, the lines in dark color on the cloth also show its three-dimensional.

•Is texture a feature of the drawing?
Yes, it shows the muscle lines of Isaac Newton, the texture of the rocks and also the stria of  the cloth.

•What can you say about the composition of the drawing? What is the effect of this type of composition on the overall drawing?
The picture is composed by 3 parts: The rock, Isaac and the darkest background. It seems Isaac is the connection between the rock and the dark sea. "Isaac" reduces the big color contrast between the rock and sea.

•Is rhythm important in this picture? If so, say more about it...
I can't see there is rhythm in the picture.

•Is the picture balanced? Explain...
It is balance. Because the picture is cut into 2 balanced parts by Isaac Newton who is posited in the middle.

•Is perspective used in the picture? If so, describe the way that the illusion of three-dimensional space has been created.
Yes. We would firstly focus on Isaac Newton who is printed in lighter color. Through his eyes, we would focus on the diagrams he draws with a compass upon a scroll.

•Is the picture harmonious? If so, in what way? 
I think it is quite harmonious because the overall color tone is similar and three parts (rock, isaac, sea) are equally divided. The nature and Isaac makes me feel the tranquilness.

•Are there any strong contrasts in the picture? Say more... 
The overall tone in the picture is dark, however, the use of color to print Isaac Newton is lighter, so it make a contrast to the background and the rocks.
3) INTERPRETATION AND EVALUATION

•What is the mood of the drawing? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
The mood of drawing is quite unpleasant because it is to express Blake's opposition to the appearance of science during  Enlightenment period.

•What does the drawing express? Justify your answer using information from your responses above
 It expresses Blake believed that science was destroying the soul of man. He therefore portrayed Sir Isaac Newton in a contorted position poring over his work and ignoring the surrounding beauties of nature.

•In your opinion, why is this work interesting/moving/ clever/ imaginative/thought-provoking/......?  Choose the adjective(s) that best fit(s) the work, and then justify your conclusion in terms of specific features and qualities of the drawing. 


I think the work is imaginative as well as thought-provoking. When I firstly see this drawing, I didn't recognize Isaac sits beneath the sea. However, while I was finding the information about this work, I recognize there are sea-flowers on the rock. It is imaginative for William Blake to draw Isaac sitting beneath the sea. Because Blake wants to emphasize science's rationality makes people ignore the nature beauty, so it is quite thought-provoking for him to "put" Isaac  in the nature but concentrating his work. This work makes me to reflect we(human-beings) always ignore the natural beauty around us.