Object Details
Artist
William H. Johnson, born Florence, SC 1901-died Central Islip, NY 1970
Sitter
William H. Johnson
William H. Johnson
Luce Center Label
The exaggerated features and thickly painted background in this self-portrait reflect William H. Johnson's admiration for European expressionist painters. When he first showed these works in the United States, one critic complained that Johnson was too influenced by foreign styles, while another argued that "a man is an artist first and an American afterwards" (Powell, Homecoming: The Art and Life of William H. Johnson, 1991). Self-Portrait reveals that Johnson's first trip to Europe had shaped not only his style but his self-image, and had set him on a path toward the "primitive" and "spiritual" truth that he felt all good art must possess.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation
Date
1929
Object number
1967.59.762
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Painting
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
23 1/4 x 18 1/4 in. (59.0 x 46.3 cm.)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
African American
Occupation\art\painter
Occupation\art\printmaker
Portrait male\self-portrait
Portrait male\bust
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1967.59.762