A Day of Fishing

There is a quiet kind of storytelling in A Day of Fishing—the kind that doesn’t ask for attention, but rewards those who linger. In this painting, Merrill Coffin captures a familiar rural moment: a covered bridge spanning calm water, autumn grasses bending toward the stream, and two figures pausing at the edge of the day to fish.

The scene feels unhurried. The bridge is sturdy and red, grounded by stone abutments that have likely held fast for generations. Birch trees frame the foreground, their pale trunks catching the light and guiding the eye inward. Everything in the composition works together to create balance—nature, structure, and human presence sharing the same rhythm.

What makes this painting especially compelling is its sense of time. There is no urgency here. The figures aren’t posed dramatically; they are simply being. Fishing becomes less about the catch and more about the ritual—standing by the water, watching reflections ripple, listening to the soft movements of the landscape.

Merrill’s brushwork reinforces this feeling. The softened edges and layered tones suggest memory rather than documentation, as if this is a place remembered from childhood or revisited in quiet reflection. It’s not a specific moment frozen in time—it’s many moments blended together. Days spent outdoors. Afternoons with nothing pressing to do. The kind of peace that comes from familiarity with a place.

Like much of Merrill Coffin’s work, A Day of Fishing celebrates everyday life in rural America. There’s dignity in simplicity here, and a gentle reverence for landscapes shaped by both nature and human hands. The covered bridge is more than a structure—it’s a symbol of continuity, much like the traditions passed down through families and communities.

This painting invites the viewer to slow down, to remember a time when presence mattered more than productivity. It’s a quiet reminder that some of the richest days are the ones where nothing much happens at all.

If you happen to be the possessor of this artwork, we would greatly appreciate your contact. Unfortunately, we don’t possess any information about this particular piece- the title was created based on the subject matter.