How William Blake uses light as a symbol to cast the difference between two groups

"He believed he saw angels and his art was supposed to convey some of that experience."

"He believed he saw angels and his art was supposed to convey some of that experience."

Curator Constance McPhee on William Blake's "The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins."

Featured artwork:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/340853

Throughout 2013, The Met invited curators from across the Museum to each talk about one artwork that changed the way they see the world.

Photography by Eileen Travell

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Contributors

Constance C. McPhee
Curator, Department of Drawings and Prints

A small wooden carved box featuring figures and a tree in relief.
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Author Leena Krohn reflects on Helene Schjerfbeck’s portrait of Sigrid Nyberg.
Leena Krohn
December 18, 2025
Black woman wearing all black, standing in front of mannequins dressed in blue, yellow and beige.
Video

Superfine Artist Tanda Francis, shares her inspiration behind the design of the custom mannequins used in the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition.

October 23, 2025
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