Jakob worstelt met de engel 1728

This engraving by Gilliam van der Gouwen depicts the struggle between Jacob and an angel. The central motif is the wrestling match itself, a potent symbol of inner conflict and transformation. In early Mesopotamian art, figures are often depicted grappling with mythical beasts, representing humanity's struggle against chaos. We see echoes of this in classical Greek depictions of Heracles battling the Nemean lion, a symbol of overcoming primal instincts. Here, in this 18th-century engraving, Jacob's struggle takes on a more psychological dimension. The angel, an ethereal being, represents the divine will, or perhaps Jacob's own conscience. The act of wrestling is a visible manifestation of his internal battle, a deep-seated need to reconcile with his past and embrace his destiny. The artist, perhaps unconsciously, taps into our collective memory of struggle and transformation, reminding us of the battles we all face within ourselves. This image, therefore, resonates not just as a biblical scene, but as a timeless representation of the human condition.