Twelfth International Conference on The Inclusive Museum

Abstract

“A Vision: The Inspiration of the Poet,” by William Blake circa 1819 – 20 is a watercolour which demonstrates conflict between the painted image of light and geometry. Human perception has an evolved ability to make judgements about spatial awareness, based upon light cues. However, the drawn perspective of spatial boundaries presents an additional route to understand space. Blake’s work demonstrates a painted representation of architectural space subject to light and the depiction of architectural form through geometric representation. On the one hand, a strong geometric shape reinforces the structure of the form, on the other our evolved reading of shape from shading through the depiction of light and dark present a counterintuitive reading. This counterpoint between reading light and reading geometry tempers the viewer’s visual acceptance of the reality of light as presented in the work. To understand our visual perception of the work I propose to deconstruct the paintings relationship with light and perspective. Blake’s work challenges our evolved perception of light and challenges how we recognise the cues of light in space. How the painting reads to us through cues of light and dark, in combination with perspective, deepens our understanding of the visual perception of the image of architectural space.