The artwork titled “Jacob Wrestling with the Angel” is an oil on panel piece created by the artist Odilon Redon circa 1905. As part of the Symbolism movement, the painting possesses religious significance and measures approximately 46.99 by 41.28 centimeters. The piece belongs to a private collection, emphasizing the era’s interest in spiritual and emotive representations as opposed to the literal or naturalistic depictions favored by other art movements of the time.
The artwork conveys a scene steeped in intensity and divine confrontation. The central figures, Jacob and the angel, are depicted in the midst of their legendary struggle, an episode from the Bible that has long fascinated artists and theologians alike. Redon’s approach to this scene is highly stylized, with strong emotion expressed through vibrant colors and the abstracted forms of the subjects. The overall composition is rich and layered, with a dramatic play of light that creates depth and movement. The angel’s wings are generously outlined, providing an otherworldly presence that contrasts with the more earthly tones of the surrounding landscape. The colors of the scene seem to blend and overlap, creating an atmosphere that is both ethereal and intense.