Self-Portrait

William H. Johnson, Self-Portrait, ca. 1923-1926, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.679
William H. Johnson, Self-Portrait, ca. 1923-1926, oil on canvas, 29 3⁄4 x 23 3⁄4 in. (75.5 x 60.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.679

Artwork Details

Title
Self-Portrait
Artist
Date
ca. 1923-1926
Location
Dimensions
29 3⁄4 x 23 3⁄4 in. (75.5 x 60.4 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of the Harmon Foundation
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait male — Johnson, William H. — self-portrait
  • Portrait male — Johnson, William H. — waist length
  • Occupation — art — printmaker
  • African American
  • Occupation — art — painter
Object Number
1967.59.679
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1967.59.679

Artwork Description

This self-portrait reflects William H. Johnson’s training at the National Academy of Design. His painting teacher, Charles Hawthorne, encouraged his students to paint with “spots of color,” using a palette knife instead of a brush (Powell, Homecoming: The Art and Life of William H. Johnson, 1991). Here, patches of red, yellow, and blue pigment lift Johnson’s features out of the background and give his self-portrait the somber dignity that the National Academy fostered in its artists.

Works by this artist (74 items)

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Elaine Mayes, Untitled (corner pillar), gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.961, ©1971, Elaine Mayes
Untitled (corner pillar)
Artist
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Elaine Mayes, Autolandscape, Ohio, September 1971, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1985.53.18, © 1971, Elaine Mayes
Autolandscape, Ohio
Artist
DateSeptember 1971
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Elaine Mayes, Autolandscape, Connecticut, September 1971, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1985.53.38, © 1971, Elaine Mayes
Autolandscape, Connecticut
Artist
DateSeptember 1971
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Elaine Mayes, Autolandscape, Illinois--Ohio, September 1971, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1985.53.63, © 1971, Elaine Mayes
Autolandscape, Illinois – Ohio
Artist
DateSeptember 1971
gelatin silver print
Not on view

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Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
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Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.16
PaJaMa (Box A)
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Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
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