The artwork, titled “Two Boys on Moorkanal,” was created by Paula Modersohn-Becker around the year 1900. Executed on cardboard, this piece belongs to the Expressionism art movement and measures 60.5 by 44.5 cm. An example of genre painting, it depicts a scene from everyday life.
In the artwork, two boys are depicted standing on a moorland path with a barren, earthy foreground contrasting against a greener, middle area dominated by a red-roofed building in the distance. The boys are rendered with a loose, expressive brushstroke characteristic of Expressionism, presenting them in dark, simple clothing. The muted, somber tones invoke a sense of simplicity and poignant realism, reflecting the rural life of the time. The sky, painted in soft, muted hues, hints at overcast weather, adding to the overall sober mood of the scene. The austere landscape and the solemn expressions of the children convey a touching, reflective quality that is both captivating and evocative.
