Bargeman Collection

"Street life in London": workers on the "silent highway", 1877 (print on double-weight paper)
3570767 "Street life in London": workers on the "silent highway", 1877 (print on double-weight paper); (add.info.: London, Great Britain 1877 Photographer: Thomson)

The Sand Bargeman, 1887. Creator: Jozef Israels
The Sand Bargeman, 1887. Other Title(s): The Sand Barge

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal - Canal Boat, 1917. Creator: Harris & Ewing. Chesapeake & Ohio Canal - Canal Boat, 1917
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal - Canal Boat, 1917. The C&O Canal operated from 1831 until 1924 along the Potomac River between Washington, D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland

View of a river landscape in winter. Three large barges are moving along the water. Over a tall fence, a wooden cabin and some houses are visible

Namur, 1890. Creator: Unknown
Namur, 1890. The Citadel of Namur on the confluence of Sambre and Meuse rivers was a disputed territory between Spain, France, England

Workers on the "Silent Highway", 1877. Creator: John Thomson
Workers on the " Silent Highway", 1877. A work made of woodburytype, from the album " street life in london"

Workers on the "Silent Highway", 1881. Creator: John Thomson
Workers on the " Silent Highway", 1881. A work made of woodburytype, plate 8 in the book " street incidents" (1881)

The Bargemens Contest in front of the Pont Neuf, Paris (oil on canvas)
ZEN144148 The Bargemens Contest in front of the Pont Neuf, Paris (oil on canvas) by Raguenet, Nicolas (fl.1750-75) & Jean Baptiste (1715-93); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris

Two Bargemen, and Man and Woman with Basket (pencil on paper)
1214698 Two Bargemen, and Man and Woman with Basket (pencil on paper) by Beilby, William (1740-1819); 18.0x11.6 cm; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

On the Banks of the Seine
WAT52182 On the Banks of the Seine by Guinier, Henri (1867-1927); Private Collection; Waterhouse & Dodd, London, UK; French, out of copyright

Bargeman, Gloucester docks
A male bargee leans on the wooden tiller of a canal narrow boat berthed in Gloucester Docks Date: 1990

The Bargee, 1920. Artist: CRW Nevinson
The Bargee, 1920. From Londoners Then and Now As Pictured By Their Contemporaries, edited by Geoffrey Holme. [The Studio Ltd. London, 1920]

Unloading on the Grand Union Canal, London, c1905

Boats on Regents Canal, London, c1905. The Regents Canal, connecting the Paddington Canal and the Thames at Limehouse, was opened in 1820

At the foot of the mast on a Thames Barge, London, 20th century

Grain-Boat on the Erie Canal, 1883. From America Illustrated, edited by J. David Williams. [DeWolfe, Fiske & Company, Boston, 1883]

Canton Barge-men fightng Quails, 1843. Artist: Augustus Fox
Canton Barge-men fightng Quails, 1843. After Thomas Allom (1804?1872). From China Illustrated, by Thomas Allom. [The London Printing and Publishing Company Limited, London, 1843]

A horse pulling a canal barge, 1926-1927. From Wonderful London, volume II, edited by Arthur St John Adcock, published by Amalgamated Press (London, 1926-1927)

A bargee and his mates play dominoes in the hold of a canal boat, 1926-1927. From Wonderful London, volume II, edited by Arthur St John Adcock, published by Amalgamated Press (London, 1926-1927)

The Port of Lyon, 1830. Artist: Louis Etienne Watelet
The Port of Lyon, 1830

The Edges of the Seine, Paris, (1880-1924?). Artist: James Wilson Morrice
The Edges of the Seine, Paris, (1880-1924?). From the collection of the Musee d Orsay, Paris, France

Flight of locks on the Saima Canal, Finland, c1900. A ship is descending the flight. On the left is a typical boatman. This canal, completed in 1856, linked Saima Lake to the Gulf of Finland

The Lock, 1824 (oil on canvas)
BAL4474 The Lock, 1824 (oil on canvas) by Constable, John (1776-1837); 142.2x120.7 cm; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain; (add.info)

Workers on the Silent Highway, 1877-78 (b / w photo)
XJF444361 Workers on the Silent Highway, 1877-78 (b/w photo) by Thomson, John (1837-1921); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

France, Paris, Canal St-Martin, barge and bargeman (NR) in canal locks by the Quai de Jemmapes

Industry in East London, 1908
Industry in East London, on the banks of a river. This drawing in charcoal dates from 1908, and is by the US artist Joseph Pennell (1857-1926)

Bargeman eating a sandwich
A bargeman eating a large sandwich, four slices thick!

Pont Notre-Dame / Raguenet
The Pont Notre-Dame in the 18th century : water-jousting is taking place on the Seine

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"Bargeman: Navigating the Silent Highway of History" Step back in time to Namur, 1890, where an unknown creator captures the essence of bargemen. These hardworking individuals were the backbone of transportation along waterways, as depicted by John Thomson in his photographs from 1877 and 1881 titled "Workers on the Silent Highway. " The importance of bargemen extended beyond Belgium's borders. In Paris, a captivating oil painting showcases "The Bargemens Contest" taking place in front of Pont Neuf. The artist skillfully portrays their strength and camaraderie amidst a bustling cityscape. Not limited to canvas alone, pencil sketches like "Two Bargemen, and Man and Woman with Basket" offer glimpses into everyday life along rivers and canals. On the banks of Seine or Gloucester docks, these men tirelessly unloaded cargo while women contributed their efforts. Moving across continents to London's Grand Union Canal or Regents Canal around 1905 reveals scenes filled with boats navigating through urban landscapes. A sense of unity prevails as bargemen work together unloading goods for trade. Even at sea on Thames Barges during the twentieth century, bargemen found themselves at home near towering masts. Their expertise ensured smooth sailing for these iconic vessels that played a vital role in commerce. Traveling further westward brings us to America's Erie Canal in 1883; here we witness grain-boat barges transporting essential resources across vast distances. These dedicated workers facilitated economic growth by connecting regions through waterways. Throughout history, whether captured on film or immortalized on canvas, bargemen have left an indelible mark on society. From Namur to Paris, London to New York City - they navigated silent highways carrying both goods and dreams upon their sturdy vessels. Let us remember these unsung heroes who shaped our world one barge at a time – forever etched within the annals of history.