The Circle of the Lustful: Paolo and Francesca

William Blake

National Gallery of Art

This print features a swirling vortex of lines and circular shapes. People appear to be enveloped in the abstract, spiraling forms, which look similar to swirling waves. On the right, there are two people outside of these waves; one person is lying on their back with their arms by their sides, and another person is standing over them. They appear to be standing on a riverbank near the waves of people. Seeming to flow off of the person lying down is one of these flowing waves, within which a man and a woman float, seeming to reach for each other. Near the upper-right corner of the print is a circular, radiant shape containing a smaller depiction of two more people that appear to be facing each other and perhaps kissing.