Tone Kralj was a painter, printmaker and sculptor and, together with his brother France, the pioneer of Expressionism and New Objectivity in the Slovene context. His body of religious wall paintings in the Primorska (Littoral) Region is exceptional on the European level, too.

Between 1921 and 1923 he studied sculpture at the Prague art academy with Professor Jan Štursa. He later upgraded his skills in Vienna, Paris, Venice, and Rome. After he finished his studies in Prague he moved to Ljubljana, where he studied for two academic terms at the department of architecture at the Technical Faculty of Ljubljana.

Between 1915 and 1921, Tone Kralj broke free in his painting from the formal historical styles attached to the Fin-de-siècle symbolism and Secession, and between 1921 and 1924 he tackled linear Expressionism and colour symbolism. The Storm (1923) belongs to this period. Its composition is intentionally turned upside down: lower right we can see a mother with child painted from bird’s eye view, the figure on the left is protecting with the hands the head from the storm which fills the entire upper half of the composition. The dramatic moment of the danger is emphasized by dark reddish-brown and blue colours. The artist achieved in the painting a unique intertwinement of lyrical declaration, dramatic mood and symbolism.