“The Sources of Country Music” is an artwork created by Thomas Hart Benton in 1975. Executed with acrylic on canvas, it belongs to the art movement known as Regionalism and falls under the genre of genre painting.
The artwork portrays a vibrant and dynamic depiction of various scenes where music plays an integral role in rural settings. Figures are engaged in musical performances and dancing, surrounded by country landscapes that include details such as a train and woodlands in the background. The composition is richly filled with the energy and spirit of American country life, capturing the multitude of influences that contribute to the tradition of country music. The figures, dressed in period attire, are depicted with an expressive realism that is characteristic of Benton’s work, emphasizing the cultural and social connections between music and community.
