The painting is a major work of Norwegian social realism, executed in 1886-87. On the basis of the artist's earlier sketches and studies on the same subject, and a thorough discussion of the radiographs made in 1976-77, the different stages of its execution are outlined and the compositional changes made during the painting processes shown by means of diagrams. It is suggested that the changes were determined by the artist's striving for a less idealized, more realistic depiction of the human drama, which is the message of the painting. In an appendix, the question of whether Krohg's younger contemporary Edvard Munch took part in the execution of the painting is put forward. -- AATA