“Workers on Their Way Home” is an oil on canvas artwork by Edvard Munch, created between 1913 and 1915. Embodying the Expressionist movement, the artwork’s dimensions are substantial at 201 by 227 centimeters. While it serves as a sketch and study, the artwork bears significant expressive weight and is currently housed at the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway.
The artwork depicts a scene of laborers presumably leaving their place of work, as suggested by the title. The composition is marked by a sense of movement and dynamism, with figures rendered in a style that is distinctively gestural and emotive, characteristic of Munch’s Expressionist approach. The figures in the foreground are portrayed with bold, dark outlines and exaggerated features that convey a sense of weariness and possibly the psychological strain of their labor. Their dominant presence in the frame suggests that they are the principal focus of the narrative.
In the background, the rest of the workers appear smaller and less defined, trailing off into the distance towards muted architectural structures that are simplified and abstracted, hinting at an industrial setting. The color palette is dominated by blues, greens, and earth tones, further emphasizing the somber mood of the scene. The brushwork is loose and fluid, with visible strokes that add to the overall sense of unrest and emotional tension. The artwork effectively captures the essence of the workers’ daily reality, reflecting broader themes of human experience and social conditions of the time.
