The vertically oriented painting depicts a man lying on the ground in the presence of winged angels. Light falls from above, from the left side. The work employs a strong contrast of light and shadow. The upper part is dominated by a bright, golden hue, while the lower part is darkened, at times almost black.

In the foreground, in the lower right corner, lies a sleeping man—identified as the biblical Jacob. He rests in shadow, his figure subdued. He lies on his back, his head supported by his right arm. He has dark hair and a short beard. His eyes are closed, as are his lips. His face expresses tranquility. He wears a long-sleeved red tunic. His right arm is bent toward his right side, while his left arm lies along the ground beside him. From the waist down he is covered with a white cloth. His right leg rests straight on the ground, while the left is slightly bent at the knee. Gentle, golden light falls on parts of the cloth covering him.

Above Jacob, on the left, are two angels. The first, positioned near the left edge, is shown in profile with his right side toward the viewer. He stands in shadow, though golden light shines from behind his silhouette. The angel has short, thick, dark hair and a gentle expression. His torso is bare, and his hands are clasped in prayer. A pair of dark, feathered wings extends from his back. He wears a blue skirt-like garment reaching from the waist to the calves. The angel touches the ground with the toes of his right foot, while his other leg, slightly bent at the knee, is lifted above the earth.

The second angel stands to the right, behind the first. He faces the viewer, his head slightly tilted to the right. Light from the left illuminates his figure. He has light, curly hair falling to his shoulders. His face is serene. He wears a long white robe reaching his ankles. His right arm hangs at his side; with his left hand he touches his chest.

In the background on the right, a group of angels ascends a radiant staircase. They wear long robes in shades of pink, yellow, and green. Each has a pair of bright, feathered wings. This is the brightest area of the painting, sharply contrasting with the dark, dense clouds that stretch along the right edge.

The theme is taken from the Old Testament. Jacob, who through deceit obtained the blessing of his father Isaac intended for the firstborn Esau, had to flee from his brother’s anger. On his journey to his uncle Laban, he experienced a vision: in a dream he saw a ladder reaching to heaven, with angels ascending and descending upon it, and at its top stood God. In this revelation, Isaac’s blessing was reaffirmed, along with the promise that through Jacob’s descendants all the nations of the earth would receive God’s grace.

The artist applied the technique of impasto painting, which involves laying thick layers of paint on the surface. As a result, individual brushstrokes are clearly visible on the canvas.

Audio description: Emilia Szymańska
Consultation: Adrian Wyka
Content consultation: Miłosz Kargol