Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience by William Blake

William Blake was born in 1757 in London. He spent his childhood in Dublin and then moved to Switzerland. Initially unappreciated and considered insane, William Blake is now known as one of the most inspiring and influential English artists of all times. Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience were originally produced as engraved and illuminated books, colored by the author himself.

After publishing Songs of Innocence, William Blake wrote a new set of songs (Songs of Experience), which in a harsh but satirical way responded to those collected in his first work.

Songs of innocence and experience contrast the innocent and idyllic childhood existence with the repression and corruption of an adult environment. In his work, Blake shares his individual political and spiritual believes. He touches on difficult topics such as poverty, children abuse and repressive nature of church and skillfully paints a portrait of a complex political and social landscape of his era.