“Workers on their way home I” is an evocative artwork by the renowned Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, created between 1918 and 1920. This piece, which embodies the spirit of Expressionism, is a genre painting that utilizes a distinctive combination of charcoal, crayon, and watercolor on paper. The artwork’s dimensions are 57 x 77.9 cm. Currently, it is housed in the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, where it can be appreciated by art aficionados and the general public alike.
The artwork portrays a scene with figures that appear to be laborers heading home. The dominant figure in the foreground shows a somewhat distorted form, indicative of the expressionistic style that conveys emotional resonance over realistic representation. The use of rapid, sketch-like strokes gives the work a sense of movement and urgency. The color palette seems subdued with washes of color, yet punctuated by brighter hues highlighting certain elements of the composition, such as the clothing of the figures.
The background is sketched with sufficient detail to identify an industrial setting, hinting at the end of a workday as suggested by the title. The figures are rendered with both solid and fluid lines, adding dynamism to the piece and highlighting the transitory nature of the moment being captured. There is a particular emphasis on the solitary and somewhat alienated nature of the workers, a theme that is often explored in Munch’s oeuvre. Overall, the artwork communicates a sense of weariness intertwined with the momentum of life’s relentless routine.