Canvassing for a Vote 1852

"Canvassing for a Vote" by George Caleb Bingham depicts a scene of 19th-century American politics. Four men sit in front of a tavern, engaging in a lively conversation. The scene is likely set in Missouri, where Bingham was born and raised. The painting's realistic portrayal of everyday life and its focus on the political process makes it a significant work of American genre painting. The painting captures a specific moment in the political campaign of the time, as a man in a top hat attempts to persuade a group of men about a political candidate.