Possible WPA oil painting...what are these guys doing?

Hi! Have a nice painting that said 'WPA' to me as soon as i saw it.

oil on canvas board...canvas looks to be about 16" by 20"

no signature visible (dang it!). the painting is very clean and bright.

As for what the men are doing...maybe playing dice?

Any help appreciated as always!

 

I think they're on lunch break from the mill/factory in the background left, the guy standing up is serving a beverage from the can in the foreground left.

 

I can see why you say that for it looks Thomas Hart Benton to me though a bit bright in colors.

 

Likely inspired by the Regionalism Movement but not from the period.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Reg..._AUIBigB#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=Regionalist+workers

 

You might be able to guess what part of the US this was from the architecture. Then you can guess the date from the black vehicle.

What's meaning of sign over window to left of center? Seems to say "7th COPY" or whatever.

 

Shooting/playing marbles.

 

Hi Mary
More than likely playing craps with dice. Playing marbles would have taken a larger space and not so much a grown up thing.
greg

 

Or the sign might say "7th Day" as in 7th Day Church of God, which split off from the more famous 7th day religion in the late 19th C. I think because they rejected Susan White as Prophetess. Or maybe it is just the painting's title, since it could be a scene from a small town on a Sunday.

 

It says TONY's.

Neither dice nor marbles would work well on a grassy surface.

The container looks like a milk can.

 

Tony's it is! Good for you Ms. B! The dark dome- top object next to boys could be a small animal carrier. Maybe they found an injured squirrel or fox and are attempting first-aid.

 

Hello! Sorry to be late to the party...crazy busy day! you guys are awesome!

yes...it does say tonys!

Tim...Regionalism Movement...thank you!
I was wondering why you don't think it's of the period? i neglected to mention my friend did have it cleaned and framed about 15 years ago.

Thank guys and gals!

 

The color palette seems to bright to me but maybe it's a product of the digital photos and having been cleaned.
Is it nailed to the stretcher and can you show the back of the canvas? I could be convinced otherwise. Either way it's not as refined as most paintings of this genre and period by well known artists.

 

They could have something on the grass like a blanket. I also think it represents a dice game. As primitive as it looks, I think the colors look modern. I would like to see the back of the canvas, too.

 

Hi! i'll have to ask my friend if i can remove the paper on the back, but i'm pretty sure it's canvas board.