A Social History of the State of Missouri (detail) - Steamboat Sam Clemens with Huck Finn and Jim on Raft 1936

"A Social History of the State of Missouri (detail) - Steamboat Sam Clemens with Huck Finn and Jim on Raft" is a 1936 mural by Thomas Hart Benton. This detail depicts a scene from Mark Twain's novel *The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn*. Huck Finn and Jim, escaping down the Mississippi River, are depicted on a raft as they pass a steamboat, a common mode of transportation in the region during the 19th century. The scene is illuminated by the light of a full moon and the steamboat's lanterns. This mural is a prime example of Benton's Regionalist style, characterized by its emphasis on American themes and the depiction of everyday life.