Shad Fishing at Gloucester on the Delaware River 1881

"Shad Fishing at Gloucester on the Delaware River" is a realist painting by Thomas Eakins, completed in 1881. It portrays a group of men hauling in a net of shad fish from the Delaware River near Gloucester, New Jersey. Eakins, known for his meticulous depictions of American life, captured the physicality and labor of the fishermen with remarkable detail. This painting, now housed at Ball State University Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the fishing industry of the late 19th century and showcases Eakins's mastery of light and shadow.