Workers on the Way Home
- Original dimensions
- 160.8 x 130.7 cm
- Movement
- expressionism
- Museum
- Statens Museum for Kunst
- Year
- 1914
Scene depicted
In this pictorial work, Munch depicts a group of workers on their way home, their silhouettes rising against a sky struck by the yellowed colors of twilight. This composition highlights not only their physical exhaustion after a long day of labor but also their quest for comfort in the simple normality of returning home. The blurred shapes and brush movements evoke the amalgams of daily life and the depth of human emotions.
Historical context
As the world prepares to enter the modern era, Edvard Munch painted this canvas emblematic, brilliantly capturing the very essence of the human condition. Located in Copenhagen, the painting reflects the social and emotional tensions of his contemporaries, immersing viewers in the vibrant energy of expressionism . The painting can be admired at the prestigious Statens Museum for Kunst , a true sanctuary of beautiful works of art.
Place in the artist's career
Workers on the Way Home is situated at a crucial crossroads in Munch's career, marking a period of stylistic refinement. In parallel with his earlier works, such as The Scream and The Madonna, this canvas illustrates his evolution towards a deeper expression of human feelings, while remaining true to his innovative and powerful style.
Anecdote
“Solitude accompanies me and the fatigue of the workers resonates within me, like a cry in the night.” This quote from Munch reveals the inspiration behind his masterpiece , which may have been sketched during a quiet walk by a light breeze, where he would have crossed the gaze of the workers returning home, the twilight bringing a melancholic atmosphere.
Major exhibitions
Edvard Munch . Monumental projects