Thorn Prikker belonged to the Dutch Symbolists, artists who wanted to express feelings, their dreams and thoughts or inner visions in their work. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he made a series of performances of working rural people, including 'De Steendragers' (1890) and 'Het Koolveld' (1891). In his work from this period, the painter's attention seems to be mainly focused on the effect of colour and light, with which he detaches himself from imitating reality. Figures and background become one in these watercolour and pastel drawings. The scene is barely recognizable.