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Student Artwork Guide

On Strike

Sir Hubert Von Herkomer

Name Class Date
Sir Hubert Von Herkomer, On Strike. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Sir Hubert Von Herkomer originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/sir-hubert-von-herkomer/
Artist’s dates
1849 – 1914
Movement
Realism Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Sir Hubert Von Herkomer died in 1914; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1984.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 11, 2026

On Strike — Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Part 1 · The artwork

In context

On Strike — Sir Hubert Von Herkomer

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1840
  2. 1850
  3. 1860
  4. 1870
  5. 1880
  6. 1890
  7. 1900
  8. 1910

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 65 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Sir Hubert Von Herkomer (1849–1914) every dated painting, decade by decade

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/sir-hubert-von-herkomer-on-strike-9DJCYN-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Quinacridone Magenta #924a37

    Catalogued palette

    • #924A37
    • #63251C
    • #27090B
    • #D3937C

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Quinacridone Magenta
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Deep_shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Sir Hubert Von Herkomer over the last twelve months — 8 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 75.9%4,100 visits
    2. 2 Hong Kong 5.6%300 visits
    3. 3 Singapore 5.6%300 visits
    4. 4 United States of America 5.6%300 visits
    5. 5 Brazil 1.9%100 visits
    6. 6 Germany 1.9%100 visits
    7. 7 United Kingdom 1.9%100 visits
    8. 8 Japan 1.9%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Sir Hubert Von Herkomer

    1. 1 The Last Muster 11.9%800 visits
    2. 2 Eventide: A Scene at the Westminster Union, 1878 6.0%400 visits
    3. 3 Dinah Maria Craik 4.5%300 visits
    4. 4 Portrait Of An Old Man With Side Whiskers 3.0%200 visits
    5. 5 George Carlyon Hughes Armstrong 3.0%200 visits
    6. 6 A Young Girl And Her Dog 3.0%200 visits
    7. 7 Emilia Francis 1.5%100 visits
    8. 8 Souvenir Of Watts 1.5%100 visits
    9. 9 George Findlay 1.5%100 visits
    10. 10 Thomas Hawksley 1.5%100 visits
    11. 11 Captain Philip Blundell Bicknell 1.5%100 visits
    12. 12 Portrait Of A Man 1.5%100 visits
    13. 13 A Lady Arranging Flowers 1.5%100 visits
    14. 14 John D. Allcroft, Treasurer Of Christ's Hospital 1.5%100 visits
    15. 15 Anna Herkomer, Née Weise 1.5%100 visits
    16. 16 The Last Muster, Sunday At The Royal Hospital 1.5%100 visits
    17. 17 Lorenz Herkomer - 1.5%100 visits
    18. 18 John Couch Adams 1.5%100 visits
    19. 19 Self Portrait 1.5%100 visits
    20. — On Strike this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 50.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 236 works by this artist, of which 52 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 11, 2026

    On Strike — Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Sir Hubert Von Herkomer

    Born in Waal, Germany

    Sir Hubert von Herkomer: Life & Legacy

    Early Life and Education

    Sir Hubert von Herkomer (born Hubert Herkomer on May 26, 1849 – died March 31, 1914) was a German-born British painter, film director, and composer.

    His family originated from Bavaria but faced financial struggles; his mother supplemented their income by giving music lessons.

    Herkomer’s formal education was limited due to illness, and he did not return to school after falling sick at a young age.

    He began artistic training in Southampton before attending the South Kensington Schools in 1866 for more serious study.

    Artistic Career & Development

    Herkomer first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1869, marking the beginning of his professional career.

    By 1875, he had established himself as a significant artist with his oil painting, The Last Muster, based on an earlier woodblock.

    His early works often depicted scenes of rural life and the hardships faced by the working class, reflecting a commitment to social realism.

    He later became known for his portraiture, particularly of prominent men of the era.

    Notable Works & Achievements

    Hard Times (1885): Perhaps his most famous work, depicting a struggling family and embodying social commentary. It is currently held at Manchester Art Gallery.

    The Last Muster (1875): A pivotal painting that solidified his reputation within the Royal Academy.

    Eventide: A Scene in the Westminster Union (1878): Another significant early work showcasing his realist style and social concerns.

    Elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1879 and a full Academician in 1890.

    Appointed Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford in 1885, holding the position until 1894.

    Influences & Artistic Style

    Herkomer’s work was influenced by the Realist movement and a desire to depict life accurately, particularly the lives of ordinary people.

    He drew inspiration from artists like Jean-François Millet and Gustave Courbet, who also focused on social realism.

    His style evolved over time, incorporating elements of Impressionism while maintaining his commitment to detailed observation and emotional depth.

    Legacy & Historical Significance

    In 1899, Herkomer was ennobled as Ritter von Herkomer by King Otto of Bavaria.

    He received the Pour le Mérite for Arts from Kaiser Wilhelm II in the same year.

    Knighted by King Edward VII in 1907, further recognizing his contributions to the art world.

    Herkomer’s work provides valuable insight into Victorian society and the social issues of his time.

    He was a pioneer in using photography as an aid to painting and also experimented with early filmmaking.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for On Strike

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/sir-hubert-von-herkomer-on-strike-9DJCYN-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Herkomer, Sir Hubert Von. On Strike. n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/sir-hubert-von-herkomer-on-strike-9DJCYN-en/
    APA
    Herkomer, Sir Hubert Von (n.d.). On Strike [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/sir-hubert-von-herkomer-on-strike-9DJCYN-en/
    Chicago
    Sir Hubert Von Herkomer. On Strike. n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/sir-hubert-von-herkomer-on-strike-9DJCYN-en/
    Harvard
    Herkomer, Sir Hubert Von (n.d.) On Strike. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/sir-hubert-von-herkomer-on-strike-9DJCYN-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 11, 2026

    On Strike — Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    On Strike — Sir Hubert Von Herkomer

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: labor strike, industrial era, social realism. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Eventide: A Scene at the Westminster Union (1878), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Realism: Painting ordinary people and ordinary work exactly as they are, without making them prettier or grander. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 11, 2026

    On Strike — Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    Can I watch "On Strike" as a full-screen slideshow?

    A slideshow is available: the Diaporama page of "On Strike" by Sir Hubert Von Herkomer.

    Is "On Strike" by Sir Hubert Von Herkomer a portrait, landscape or square composition?

    The format of "On Strike" is tall. This is useful when planning where a reproduction will be placed.

    What other names is Sir Hubert Von Herkomer known by?

    Other names recorded for Sir Hubert Von Herkomer, creator of "On Strike", include Hubert Von Herkomer.