Landscape with Jacob Sleeping 1560 - 1609

Annibale Carracci rendered this ink drawing, Landscape with Jacob Sleeping, sometime in the late 16th century. The image depicts a biblical scene of Jacob resting. In the foreground, Jacob lies asleep under a tree, his body nestled into the earth. Beyond him stretches a vast landscape, rendered with delicate strokes that invite our gaze into the distance. Carracci was active during a time of religious reform and intense theological debate. Artists often turned to biblical narratives, seeking to interpret scripture through a contemporary lens. It’s striking to see Jacob portrayed in such a vulnerable state, his body so clearly connected to the land. We might consider how Carracci, in this moment of intimacy, is reflecting on human identity, and our relationship to the divine. The drawing captures a deep, personal moment of reflection and surrender, inviting us to contemplate our own place in the world.