Jacob Wrestling with the Angel

"Jacob Wrestling with the Angel," created by Eugène Delacroix in 1850, is a foundational example of the artist's preparatory studies, although classified technically as a drawing. This powerful work demonstrates an experimental approach to medium, having been executed primarily in oil over pen and ink on tracing paper. The tracing paper’s inherent fragility necessitated careful preservation, resulting in the sheet being mounted onto canvas and backed with protective linen for long-term stability.

The subject, drawn from the Book of Genesis (32:22–32), illustrates the climactic moment Jacob grapples with a mysterious divine figure, commonly identified as an Angel, near the stream of Jabbok. Delacroix captures the intense physical and spiritual struggle central to the narrative, a characteristic expression of the Romantic movement. The composition emphasizes the dynamic, muscular figures set against a backdrop dominated by towering trees, suggesting the isolated, primal setting of the encounter. This study provides crucial insight into the fluid draftsmanship and compositional instincts of Delacroix as he interpreted major Biblical themes.

Completed during the mid-nineteenth century, this 1850 piece reflects Delacroix’s enduring fascination with dramatic narratives and emotional intensity. While the original drawing technique is sensitive due to its mixed media on tracing paper, the imagery of Jacob Wrestling with the Angel is widely known and often reproduced in fine art prints available through public domain collections. The original is a significant element of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, preserving a vital stage of Delacroix's working method.