Born in Silesia, Bloch studied and worked in Berlin, exhibiting at the gallery of Paul Cassirer in 1911-20. In 1934 he emigrated to Britain. Bloch was friendly with Josef Herman and visited Wales several times. This painting of workers at the slate quarry at Bethesda in Gwynedd was included in the Festival of Britain exhibition '60 Paintings for 1951.' Its Expressionist style reveals the enduring influence of Edvard Munch (1863-1944), who admired Bloch's work in 1920.