Artwork
Jacob Wrestling with the Angel
Jacob Wrestling with the Angel is an oil painting by the Symbolist artist Oluf Hartmann. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Jacob Wrestling with the Angel is a 1907 oil painting by Oluf Hartmann, a Danish artist trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. The work is part of the collection at Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a biblical scene of intense physical and spiritual struggle, as Jacob wrestles with an angel. The contrast between Jacob's exertion and the angel's calm underscores the complex dynamics of divine encounter.
Technique & Style
Executed in a Symbolist style, the painting utilizes chiaroscuro to amplify drama and tension. Impasto and glazing techniques add depth and texture, focusing attention on the central figures against a muted, dark background.
History & Provenance
Created in 1907, the painting is characteristic of Hartmann's period work following his training in Copenhagen. It has been held in the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst.
Context
Emerging from Hartmann's training at the Royal Danish Academy, the piece reflects the influence of Symbolist movements on Scandinavian art at the turn of the 20th century.
Legacy
While specific legacy details are not provided, the painting's presence in a national museum collection suggests its enduring relevance within Danish art history and the broader context of early 20th-century Symbolism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Oluf Hartmann (16 February 1879 – 16 January 1910) was a Danish painter. Trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, he showed his works at important exhibitions in the 1900s.
