The second of Blake's noted "Prophecies," Europe followed its companion piece America: A Prophecy, published the preceding year (1793). Although America first appeared with uncolored plates, even the earliest copies of Europe featured color plates.

According to Blake, Europe was written at the dictation of a fairy creature who magically appeared one day. In Europe, Blake's own interpretation of the Creation myth is interwoven with reference to real historical events.

Europe contains seventeen plates finished in watercolors.

Only twelve copies of Europe from the original plates are known, two of them printed after Blake's death.