Jitterbugs (II)

William H. Johnson, Jitterbugs (II), ca. 1941, 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

Artwork Details

Title: Jitterbugs (II)
Artist: William H. Johnson
Date: ca. 1941
Location: Not on view
Dimensions: 24 x 15 ³⁄₈ in. (61.0 x 39.1 cm.)
Credit Line: Gift of the Harmon Foundation
Mediums: oil
Mediums Description: oil on paperboard
Classifications: Painting
Subjects: Figure group
African American
Object — musical instrument — trumpet
Recreation — dancing
Object Number: 1967.59.611
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1967.59.611

Artwork Description

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.