The artwork entitled “The Lonely Ones” by Edvard Munch is an example of Expressionism, completed in 1935. It is an oil on canvas piece with dimensions of 100 x 130 cm and falls under the genre painting category. Currently, it is housed in the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.
The artwork presents a moody and introspective scene featuring two figures placed in an abstract, natural environment. A sense of distance is palpable between the figures, who face away from one another and seem engulfed in their own separate worlds. The female figure is clad in white and has her long hair flowing down her back, providing a stark contrast to the dark-clad male figure. The composition is dominated by bold colors and fluid brushstrokes, creating an expressive landscape that mirrors the internal emotional landscape of the figures. The sky and sea in the background are depicted with a spectrum of blues that intensify the overall feeling of desolation within the scene. In true Expressionist fashion, the artwork conveys strong emotional resonance rather than realistic depiction, inviting the viewer to contemplate the underlying feelings of solitude and perhaps estrangement suggested by the positioning and demeanor of the characters.