Workers with a barrel (diptych) 1912

This diptych, "Workers with a Barrel", was made by Niko Pirosmani sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The way he's built up those figures, stroke by stroke, you can almost feel him figuring it out as he goes. I can imagine Pirosmani, in his humble workshop, perhaps with music playing, totally absorbed, building up these figures from the ground up. I bet the way he built up the color must have been incredibly physical, like kneading dough. Look at the color palette! These blacks and browns are not dull; they're so rich and full of life. He's captured something so real about labor, about the everyday, that it feels both timeless and utterly present. You get the sense that Pirosmani wasn't interested in showing off his skills, like so many academic painters. He was after something raw and essential. What is so striking is the way he has captured the soul of labor! The way he has rendered the weight of the world on these ordinary people is incredibly moving. It makes you wonder about all those other unknown artists out there, quietly changing the way we see the world.