This 19th century slice-of-riparian-life manages to combine joyous abandon with highly stylized composition. I love its mannered glimpse at labor, camaraderie, and do-it-yourself entertainment. 
“The Jolly Flatboatmen” (detail), oil on canvas, 1846, by George Caleb Bingham, from the exhibition American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 12 October 2009–24 January 2010 :: via Coudal Partners
Mar 30, 2010, updated Apr 8, 2025