Husking Bee, Island of Nantucket 1876

"Husking Bee, Island of Nantucket" (1876) by Eastman Johnson captures a quintessential New England tradition. The painting depicts a lively gathering of individuals, likely family and friends, participating in a husking bee, a communal activity involving the removal of husks from corn. The setting is a field of harvested corn stalks, with haystacks and a farmhouse in the background. Johnson's realistic style and attention to detail bring the scene to life, portraying the warmth and camaraderie of this rural custom. The Art Institute of Chicago houses this iconic work of American genre painting.