On the way (Auf dem Weg) (2020) Original Acrylic Painting by Ralf Schmidt

A woman carrying her few belongings, radiating a quiet dignity as she makes her way on this earth. It is not a dramatic departure, but a quiet step forward, carried by something that cannot be immediately named. As I developed the image, I wanted to capture this blend of strength and vulnerability—a state in which one does not arrive, but remains on the move.
The figure moves through a landscape that is open enough to leave room, yet clear enough to provide direction. To me, she represents people who do not loudly proclaim their path, but simply walk it. The burden she carries does not seem heavy, but necessary. It is part of her, like memories that one does not set aside, but takes along.
During the painting process, I realized how much lies in such moments of transition: a quiet continuing forward, a trust that the next step will carry you. The colors and forms were meant to reflect this attitude—not as a symbol, but as an atmosphere. A painting that shows how someone asserts their place without defending it.
For me, *On the Way* is a work about dignity in everyday life, about walking despite uncertainty, about the strength that arises when one remains true to oneself. It does not speak of a destination, but of the attitude one develops along the way.

Materials used:

Acrylic, Gesso

Details:

• Acrylic painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 100 x 150 x 2cm
• Ready to hang
• Signed on the back
• Style: Urban and Pop
• Subject: People and portraits