Blake’s Job illustrations begin in the expected place with Job portrayed in illustration 1 as a prosperous and godly man. In illustration 2, however, the great drama begins. The scene is split into two halves. On top, Satan appeals to God to allow him (Satan) to afflict Job with suffering to test his faith. God agrees. In the bottom half, Job is portrayed as discussing religious matters with angels and his family. There seems to be some sort of disagreement or friendly debate about the meaning of a scriptural passage. Illustration 3 depicts the beginning of Job’s miseries, as Satan falls upon his sons and has them killed. In illustration 4, Job hears about his misfortunes from a messenger. Illustration 5 is again split. On the bottom we see Job, though afflicted with misery, upholding his religious duty by giving to the poor and downtrodden. Nonetheless, in the upper part of the illustration, God allows Satan to turn on Job directly. Illustration 6 finds Satan torturing Job by blighting him with boils. In the next illustration, people come to comfort Job, though Job does not find comfort and in illustration 8 lashes out in despair, cursing the day he was born. The next two illustrations show Job discussing his case with his best three friends, all of which array against him. Job does not listen to them but rather takes his case directly to God. The rejection of external influence sets the stage for illustration 11, in which Job has the dream that allows him his critical insight and begins his journey to redemption.

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