Boatmen on the Missouri 1846

"Boatmen on the Missouri" (1846) by George Caleb Bingham depicts three men in a flatboat on the Missouri River. The scene captures the everyday lives of river workers, a common theme in Bingham's oeuvre. This oil on canvas exemplifies the artist's focus on American genre painting, which often portrayed scenes of everyday life and regional character. The painting is part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco collection, and is a beloved example of 19th century American art.