Jacob wrestling the angel by Rembrandt Harmens Van Rhine

THIS WORK was attempted to be connected with “Moses with the tables of laws”, believing that they supposedly constitute two parts of the big picture intended for the Amsterdam Town Hall, but so far no sufficiently convincing evidence has been presented in favor of this version.

The picture is trimmed, the struggling figures on a large canvas would not fill the whole space. The episode depicted is one of the most mysterious in the Old Testament. When Jacob is left alone, Somebody appears and fights with him all night. Angel fails to defeat Jacob, then he touches the vein on his thigh and damages her.

Nevertheless, Jacob stands the test and receives a new name Israel, meaning “the one who fought with God and will overcome the people.” That is why the poses of Jacob and the angel are more natural and justified, more likely resembling those of lovers than fighting.