Portrait of a Man

William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Man, ca. 1935-1938, oil on burlap, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.814
William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Man, ca. 1935-1938, oil on burlap, 28 1823 in. (71.458.5 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.814

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Man
Date
ca. 1935-1938
Dimensions
28 1823 in. (71.458.5 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Harmon Foundation
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on burlap
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait male — unidentified — elderly
Object Number
1967.59.814

Artwork Description

The moody colors and looping brushstrokes of thick paint link Portrait of a Man to the landscapes that William H. Johnson painted in Norway during a long trip through Scandinavia. With his jug ears and knobby red nose, this man is almost a caricature, but Johnson did not intend to satirize his subjects. He was determined to capture what he called the “essential characteristics” of his sitters, people whose faces and bodies had been shaped by the struggle to survive in a harsh environment. Here, the man’s white hair and shirtfront contrast with the darker hue of his vest and the Nordic, cobalt blue of his eyes.

Works by this artist (1036 items)

William H. Johnson, Young Pastry Cook, ca. 1928-1930, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.693
Young Pastry Cook
Dateca. 1928-1930
oil on canvas
On view
William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Man, ca. 1935-1938, oil on burlap, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.814
Portrait of a Man
Dateca. 1935-1938
oil on burlap
On view
William H. Johnson, Breakdown with Flat Tire, ca. 1940-1941, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.587
Breakdown with Flat Tire
Dateca. 1940-1941
oil on plywood
On view
William H. Johnson, For India and China, ca. 1944-1945, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.662
For India and China
Dateca. 1944-1945
oil on paperboard
On view