William H. Johnson’s World on Paper

Media - 1971.126 - SAAM-1971.126_1 - 55624

William H. Johnson, Blind Singer, ca. 1939-1940, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum

The Smithsonian American Art Museum holds the largest and most complete collection of work by the African American modernist William H. Johnson (1901 – 1970) and has done much in the past 30 years to preserve his art and establish his reputation. William H. Johnson’s World on Paper” thoroughly examines, for the first time, the artist’s involvement with printmaking. 

Description

Now, these never-before-exhibited prints by the artist reveal him to be as powerful with graphic media as with oils and tempera. Johnson's distinctive work uses bold compositions and bright colors, and his woodcuts are strongly influenced by German Expressionist art. Joann Moser, the museum's senior curator for graphic arts, selected more than 40 prints from the permanent collection for this special exhibition. An expanded version of the exhibition traveled to three venues in 2007.

Visiting Information

June 30, 2006 January 7, 2007
Open Daily, 11:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m
Free Admission

Credit

"William H. Johnson's World on Paper" is organized and circulated by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition tour is supported in part by the C. F. Foundation, Atlanta.

Online Gallery

William H. Johnson, Farm Couple at Well, ca. 1940-1941, hand-colored relief print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1068
Farm Couple at Well
Dateca. 1940-1941
hand-colored relief print
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Willie and Holcha, ca. 1935, hand-colored woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.793
Willie and Holcha
Dateca. 1935
hand-colored woodcut on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Jon Fisherman II, ca. 1930-1938, hand-colored woodcut on paper mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.821
Jon Fisherman II
Dateca. 1930-1938
hand-colored woodcut on paper mounted on paperboard
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Landscape with Mosques, Tunis, 1932, hand-colored woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.857
Landscape with Mosques, Tunis
Date1932
hand-colored woodcut on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Volda Fjord, Norway, ca. 1935-1937, hand-colored woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.896
Volda Fjord, Norway
Dateca. 1935-1937
hand-colored woodcut on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Harlem Street with Church, ca. 1939-1940, hand-colored relief print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1113
Harlem Street with Church
Dateca. 1939-1940
hand-colored relief print
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Seated Nude, ca. 1939-1940, hand-colored relief print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1130
Seated Nude
Dateca. 1939-1940
hand-colored relief print
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Three Friends, ca. 1944-1945, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1020
Three Friends
Dateca. 1944-1945
screenprint on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Jitterbugs (II), ca. 1941, screenprint on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1048
Jitterbugs (II)
Dateca. 1941
screenprint on paperboard
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Street Musicians, 1939-1940, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1983.95.22
Street Musicians
Date1939-1940
screenprint on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Sowing, ca. 1940-1942, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1021
Sowing
Dateca. 1940-1942
screenprint on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Off to War, ca. 1942, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Douglas E. Younger, 1971.144
Off to War
Dateca. 1942
screenprint on paper
Not on view
William H. Johnson, On a John Brown Flight, ca. 1945, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Douglas E. Younger, 1971.137
On a John Brown Flight
Dateca. 1945
screenprint on paper
Not on view

Artists

Media - portrait_image_113210.jpg - 90143
William H. Johnson
born Florence, SC 1901-died Central Islip, NY 1970

By almost any standard, William H. Johnson (1901–1970) can be considered a major American artist. He produced hundreds of works in a virtuosic, eclectic career that spanned several decades as well as several continents.