William H. Johnson: The Harlem Renaissance

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The Harlem Renaissance is said to be one of the most influential time periods for African Americans. The amount of art, music, literature, and inventions that floated around the city of Harlem from 1920 to 1940 is almost unbelievable. Most of the art was filled with scenes that brought a historical lesson to the people in America, and helped people see the lack of rights African Americans had. The bright colors in the art of african american artist William H. Johnson was a definite eye catcher that brought fame to him during his lifetime. Today he is well known for his individuality in the thriving art community full of followers with dreams like he once had, and achieved.
Johnson was born 1901 in beautiful Florence, South Carolina, but didn’t …show more content…
African American artists, writers, and musicians were being starting to have a voice and a fair opportunity to showcase their talents. Johnson’s work has been said to have signaled the beginning of the acceptance of black artist and black art (Belton, n.d). When he first arrived he joined the Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project and took on the position of an instructor at the Harlem Community Arts Center (“William H. Johnson,” 2011). In May of 1941 he had his first solo exhibition at Alma Reed Galleries. Since this exhibition was taking place during the time of World War II he had many paintings that depicted the courageous acts of black soldiers. His paintings also focused on the idea of how humiliating segregation was for African Americans in America (“William H. Johnson,” 2011). “My people are black, as I show in this portrait of a woman sitting with folded hands and an expression of resignation.” This famous quote, once said by Johnson portrayed his idea of acceptance that the African Americans had in life towards others, even though they were not always accepted. In many of his paintings he used techniques such as curving patterns to take on the rhythm of farm work, and he made the shape of the moon to show the long hours of work that African Americans worked. He was also interested in the history of people that tried to make a difference in America, like George Washington, black heros, and abolitionists. William also addressed political issues in his art such as Moon Over Harlem, a bloody scene between cops and black people of Harlem. Johnson also had collections of paintings that included scenes from his own life. One painting was supposed to include a message about his illegitimate birth from a white man his mother was with (“William H. Johnson, Memories of the South,” 2004). William voiced his opinions with the stroke of his paint brush, a paint brush that
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