“Man and Woman on the Road to Death” is an illustration by Oskar Kokoschka, created in 1914 during the Expressionist movement. This artwork forms a part of the series “O Eternity – Thou Word of Thunder (Bach Cantata).”
The artwork portrays a distorted and somber depiction of human figures, presumably a man and a woman, as they traverse a surreal, undulating path toward death. The figures are sketched with a sense of anguish and raw emotion, characteristic of Expressionism’s focus on expressing inner turmoil and existential dread. The background is abstract, with curving lines and indistinct forms suggesting a chaotic and threatening landscape. The tormented expressions and intertwined limbs of the figures evoke a deep sense of despair and inevitable fate. The overall composition is dynamic, drawing the viewer into the dramatic and stark journey of the figures, encapsulating themes of mortality and existential anxiety.