Who painted Timbermen at Work on the Studio Building?

Timbermen at Work on the Studio Building was painted by Edvard Munch in 1920.

Where can I see Timbermen at Work on the Studio Building?

Timbermen at Work on the Studio Building is held by Munch Museum.

What movement is Timbermen at Work on the Studio Building?

Timbermen at Work on the Studio Building is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Artwork

Timbermen at Work on the Studio Building

Edvard Munch , 1920

Timbermen at Work on the Studio Building is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Edvard Munch. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Munch Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1920, this oil painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch portrays three laborers engaged in the construction of a studio building. The figures are dressed in blue shirts and caps; one stands on a ladder while the other two kneel on the ground. A light‑toned background and faint architectural lines frame the scene, emphasizing the work in progress.

Subject & Meaning

The work focuses on ordinary workers rather than mythic or symbolic figures, highlighting the physical effort of building. By presenting the men in a calm, almost contemplative pose, Munch invites reflection on the dignity of manual labor and the quiet rhythm of everyday tasks, a departure from his more overtly emotional subjects.

Technique & Style

Executed with loose, expressive brushwork, the painting employs a palette dominated by blues and browns that lend a subdued atmosphere. The handling of paint aligns with post‑impressionist tendencies, using visible strokes to convey movement and texture while maintaining a structural clarity of the figures and the nascent architecture.

History & Provenance

The canvas entered the collection of the Munch Museum in Oslo, where it remains part of the permanent holdings. It was produced during a period when Munch was consolidating his mature style, after years of study at the Royal School of Art and Design and involvement in Oslo’s bohemian art circles.

Context

While Munch is widely known for psychologically charged images such as *The Scream*, this piece reflects his broader interest in everyday life and the human condition. The depiction of construction workers connects to the early‑20th‑century urban expansion in Norway, situating the painting within the social and economic changes of its time.