Jakob ringt mit dem Engel 1850 - 1856

Eugène Delacroix painted "Jacob Wrestling with the Angel" using oil, capturing a visceral struggle. The composition is a maelstrom of entwined figures set against a dark, primeval forest. Earthy browns and greens dominate, punctuated by the fleshy pinks of the figures' straining bodies, creating a sense of claustrophobia and intensity. Delacroix’s brushwork, loose and dynamic, adds to the emotional turmoil. The painting's structure is defined by diagonals and counter-diagonals, mirroring the physical exertion and spiritual conflict of the scene. This visual tension challenges the traditional, serene depictions of religious encounters. The artist used a semiotic system of signs. For instance, the angel's wings, a symbol of divine power, are rendered with a subdued palette, questioning the nature of authority. The raw, muscular bodies of Jacob and the angel reflect a departure from Neoclassical ideals of beauty, embracing a more Romantic vision of struggle. The painting's dramatic composition and gestural brushwork invite viewers to question fixed notions of faith and power.