One of the most famous of his paintings “On the River Oka”, which shows a floating barge with tired, submerged peasants in their thoughts. The content of the picture grows out the subject frames. It is wider, deeper, more significant. This is a story about people who are able to endure much, retaining steadfastness and spiritual strength. This statement of poetry of Russian nature, with blue dalits, spring floods of rivers, streams of sunlight. The color, built on a combination of subdued soft colors, corresponds to the general mood of the work.
The picturesque manner of Arkhipov has changed. From carefulness and writing out of early works the artist comes to a wide, free, temperamental letter. “The whole picture is written directly in the sun,” V. Stasov reported on the canvas. “It is felt right after every shade and splendor, throughout the wonderful overall impression, of the people sitting on the barge, four women” are simply magnificent in infinitely truthful poses, in which they, idle, tired and dejected, sit silently on their bales. “