Construction laborers receiving their breakfast 1860

Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller painted this scene on canvas using oil paint to depict construction laborers receiving breakfast. Although Waldmüller employs the fine art medium of painting, his work presents a raw depiction of everyday life, highlighting the materiality of labor. Bricks, the fruits of the brickmaker's labor, become the very stuff that sustains the construction workers. Observe the weight of the bricks on the young boy's shoulders, and consider the relationship between his labor and the sustenance he receives. The figures almost blend into their surroundings, emphasizing their connection to the earth and the materials they work with. The artist elevates the work, struggles, and simple traditions of these laborers. By using oil paint, traditionally reserved for more ‘elevated’ subjects, Waldmüller blurs the lines between fine art and the realities of everyday life, prompting us to consider the social context of the depicted scene.