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

Media - 1967.59.1068 - SAAM-1967.59.1068_1 - 65345
Farm Couple at Well
Dateca. 1940-1941
hand-colored relief print
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.793 - SAAM-1967.59.793_1 - 55616
Willie and Holcha
Dateca. 1935
hand-colored woodcut on paper
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.821 - SAAM-1967.59.821_1 - 55477
Jon Fisherman II
Dateca. 1930-1938
hand-colored woodcut on paper mounted on paperboard
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.857 - SAAM-1967.59.857_1 - 55618
Landscape with Mosques, Tunis
Date1932
hand-colored woodcut on paper
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.896 - SAAM-1967.59.896_1 - 55619
Volda Fjord, Norway
Dateca. 1935-1937
hand-colored woodcut on paper
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.1113 - SAAM-1967.59.1113_1 - 55538
Harlem Street with Church
Dateca. 1939-1940
hand-colored relief print
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.1130 - SAAM-1967.59.1130_1 - 55540
Seated Nude
Dateca. 1939-1940
hand-colored relief print
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.1020 - SAAM-1967.59.1020_1 - 62156
Three Friends
Dateca. 1944-1945
screenprint on paper
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.1048 - SAAM-1967.59.1048_1 - 55535
Jitterbugs (II)
Dateca. 1941
screenprint on paperboard
Not on view
Media - 1983.95.22 - SAAM-1983.95.22_1 - 55549
Street Musicians
Date1939-1940
screenprint on paper
Not on view
Media - 1967.59.1021 - SAAM-1967.59.1021_1 - 55492
Sowing
Dateca. 1940-1942
screenprint on paper
Not on view
Media - 1971.144 - SAAM-1971.144_1 - 55548
Off to War
Dateca. 1942
screenprint on paper
Not on view
Media - 1971.137 - SAAM-1971.137_1 - 55544
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.