Preparing for Its Close-up: Flowers by William H. Johnson

Mary
April 11, 2012
Media - 1967.59.602 - SAAM-1967.59.602_2 - 133485
William H. Johnson, Flowers, 1939-1940, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.602

Who doesn't like getting a personal letter in the mail? Some people get excited over coupons or magazines, but I enjoy receiving a letter hand addressed to me with a customized stamp. Well, there is now a new Forever® stamp, available from the United States Postal Service, which features a painting from the American Art Museum's collection. The artwork called, Flowers by William H. Johnson is now on view in the museum's 2nd floor galleries.

In preparation for its current display, the painting received a light cleaning and in-painting by Amber Kerr-Allison, paintings conservator for the American Art Museum. It is wonderful to see the painting in person (the paint looks like gobs of sugary cupcake frosting!), but if you do not get the chance, at least maybe it will be on the envelope of your next birthday card from your grandmother, aunt, or best friend.

Categories

Recent Posts

An art conservator holds a vacuum nozzle on a piece of artwork.
A peek into the world of conservation and the meticulous care of James Hampton’s The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly.
Photo Anna Nielsen
Anna Nielsen
Program Coordinator
Eliza Macdonald
Katya Zinsli
Detail of illustrated portrait of Emma Amos.
04/26/2024
Painter, printmaker, and textile artist Emma Amos created colorful multi-media works that explore themes of identity.
Detail of Phoebe Kline. She is sitting in front of orchids and smiling.
Docent Phoebe Kline began at SAAM in 1974 and she's still going strong.