Luce Foundation Center for American Art
Painting: 20th century: Jitterbugs (II)
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Jitterbugs (II) about 1941 William H. Johnson oil on paperboard 24 x 15 3/8 in. (61.0 x 39.1 cm.) Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation 1967.59.611  
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William H. Johnson created four paintings of the jitterbug, a dance craze that came out of Harlem and made its way into America's "swing" culture just before the Second World War. Here, the woman dips dramatically into the arms of her partner so that the two figures become one shape of contrasting colors and patterns. Sharp angles and spiraling patterns on the floor and walls emphasize the fast, athletic pace of skilled dance partners.
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