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The subject matter was not a new one in 20th c. art. From Kandinski to Feiniger, a lot of artists attempted to image movement. Rails running along the plane of a rather limited picture, five silverish wheels, grey patches of steam, and two workers walking along in the same direction as the train is moving: this is the subject matter of Derkovits' picture. He is again very much to the point and this is what makes one think. Everything and everybody is incomplete, the painter cuts everything so everything becomes symbolic. Tensions and conflicts are increased to extremes in the picture.
In Derkovits' pictures, it is fairly unusual that a relatively simple system, horizontal and vertical axes are emphasized. Rails are multiplied and wheels run in the horizontal axis of the picture. The dark patch of the workers, who are walking quietly, slowly and resignated and who are located along the vertical axis appear in the middle of the action. The way these two figures meet make the picture full of tension. The monotony which characterizes both figures with colours of silver and cold greyish-blue are indicative of a hostile world. Both figures in earthly colours appear as a contrast in spite of subdued ochres, browns, and pinks, and this way their reserve and eternal inactivity are emphasized.
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