Street Musicians c. 1940

William H. Johnson made this gouache painting, Street Musicians, on paper with what feels like a real sense of joy, maybe even humor. He’s working with these flat planes of color, all bumping up against each other. Look at the way the purple of that post on the right sort of vibrates against the peachy ground. And then there's the players themselves; their instruments, the guitar and violin, rendered in these warm oranges that just pop right out. Johnson isn’t trying to trick you with perspective or shading. Everything is upfront, honest, immediate. The paint is laid on pretty thin, which gives it this matte, almost chalky quality. It feels really connected to the hand. It makes me think of Stuart Davis, with that same love for bold, simple shapes, but Johnson’s got this whole other layer of storytelling, of lived experience, woven in. It's a beautiful reminder that art isn't about showing off skill. It's about feeling something and finding a way to share it.