Developed between 1960-1966, Jacob Wrestling with the angel is a painting that uses a blend of deep purple color to achieve contours and contrast, which was common among the Russian Jewish modernist painters. Marc Chagall used this color to achieve the continuation of the nocturnal atmosphere, which was part of Jacob's dream. From the art, dawn was indeed approaching, and therefore, Jacob fell to his knees before the angel following a thrilling battle he endured during that night. A peculiar look at the art shows that the angel appears to be blessing Jacob since he is seen touching his forehead.
In the art Jacob Wrestling with the Angel, it appears that Jacob is pushed to the outer edge of the painting, which represents the various scenes drawn from the patriarch life. In the upper left-hand corner, the art represents Jacob's encounter with Rachel at the well when she went to fetch water. In the upper right-hand corner, the art depicts Jacob's son Joseph in the event when he was stripped by his brothers and was later thrown into the well.
The art develops a clear connection of these events that surround Jacob's life; for instance, it shows his sorrow through his sobbing into the tunic of his son, who is believed to be gone. This situation and mood are communicated through the instance when Jacob stopped in prostration in that given position. Chagall, in his creativity, uses this instance to show the prophets announcing the misfortunes that would happen to the Jewish people. To experience the threat that comes with touching and observing the art "Jacob Wrestling with the Angel," visit the Marc Chagall Museum located at 36 Avenue, Dr. Menard. The Museum is home to the most extensive public collection works of art that were primarily famous during the Russian-French modernist including artists such as Marc Chagall.