Fisherman 1935

William H. Johnson made this expressive ink drawing, Fisherman, in the mid-20th century. Johnson, an African-American artist who spent much of his career in Europe, developed a style characterized by bold, simplified forms and vibrant colors. This portrait offers a glimpse into Johnson's engagement with everyday life and labor. The fisherman's weathered face, etched with lines of experience, speaks to the hardships and resilience of working-class individuals. Consider Johnson's own identity as an African American man navigating a world marked by racial prejudice and economic inequality. His choice to depict a working-class subject like the fisherman may be seen as an act of solidarity, a recognition of shared struggles and humanity. In many ways, Johnson’s aesthetic choices—the stark, unmodulated fields of ink and the absence of conventional perspective—move away from traditional portraiture. Instead, Johnson offers us an emotionally resonant image of a man whose livelihood is deeply intertwined with the natural world.