“The Squatters,” a genre painting by George Caleb Bingham, created in 1850 using oil on canvas, exemplifies the Romanticism and Naïve Art (Primitivism) movements. Measuring 71.75 x 58.74 cm, the artwork is housed at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, MA, US.
The artwork depicts a serene rural scene featuring a group of squatters outside a modest log cabin. An older man with a long white beard and dressed in humble clothes stands with a walking stick, gazing outward contemplatively. Seated next to him is a younger man, casually resting on a log and dressed in simple attire. Behind them, a woman with a kerchief on her head peeks out from the doorway of the cabin. A loyal dog sits calmly by the older man’s side, adding to the scene’s tranquility. The background showcases a vast landscape with trees, hills, and an expansive sky dappled with clouds, reflecting the romantic idealization of nature and rural life. The painting captures a moment of calm and introspection, resonating with the themes of simplicity and connection to nature.
