The Plantation, by an unknown artist, is an example of American folk art. During the nineteenth century, American folk art became popular in the rural parts of the American colonies. The art form flourished and grew into one of the most important subsets of American art. Folk art is often self-taught and encompasses a wide variety of art, including painting, pottery, textiles (particularly quilts), metalwork, and sculpture. American folk paintings often depict the everyday life of their subjects. Because it showcases ordinary life, folk art is important to historians’ understanding of cultural history, particularly that of the “common folk.” In addition, folk art is extremely diverse, which allows for the study of different social structures that influenced the America of the nineteenth century.