Open full image Pin

The Old Oaken Bucket

James Merritt Ives

1864

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

The Old Oaken Bucket is a 1864 by James Merritt Ives, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: James Merritt Ives
When & what style?: 1864 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This image shows a quiet countryside scene with a small wooden house and bright green shutters. A boy in old-fashioned clothes is pumping water from a well using a wooden bucket. The yard has a simple fence, a clothesline with laundry, and trees framing the view of distant hills and a river. The house looks like a cozy home from long ago, with a porch and a well-worn path. The colors are soft and earthy, giving it a peaceful, everyday feel. If you like this scene, check out James Merritt Ives (American, 1824–1895) for more of his work.