A Landscape with Jacob and the Angel 1639 - 1651

Herman Naiwincx created this large landscape painting of Jacob Wrestling with the Angel using oil on canvas. The biblical story of Jacob, a nomadic shepherd, is relegated to the margins of the painting, allowing viewers to focus on the expansive, idealized landscape. Naiwincx was one of many Dutch painters who created Italianate landscapes, reflecting a cultural fascination with Italy during the Dutch Golden Age. However, these idealized landscapes also served a social function. Wealthy merchants in the growing urban centers of the Netherlands sought to display their refined taste through collecting art. Landscapes reminded urban dwellers of the natural world, and the cultural prestige associated with Italy elevated the status of their owners. To fully appreciate the painting's social context, one could research the economic conditions of the Dutch Golden Age, the cultural norms of Dutch merchants, and the art market that sustained artists like Naiwincx. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.