Church on Lenox Avenue 1940

Curator: Immediately striking, isn’t it? “Church on Lenox Avenue,” painted by William H. Johnson around 1940, uses broad strokes of acrylic to portray this Harlem scene. Editor: Yes, that’s a compelling composition, almost tilting forward. The geometry is simplified, yet the vibrancy of the colors—the strong blues against those earthier tones—captures an immediacy, a raw energy. Curator: I think the expressionistic use of color also suggests a deliberate commentary on the materials. Johnson chose to use acrylics at a time when they weren't as readily accepted in 'high art,' aligning himself with more popular and commercial forms of image making, and highlighting its social function. It really places the artwork within the context of everyday life in Harlem. Editor: But even beyond that choice of material, the application itself! The bold, unmodulated fields of color force us to see the structures not as literal buildings, but as shapes interacting. Note how the blues and oranges compete. How the buildings' angular forms nearly touch, creating a visual tension. It's a tug of war, pulling you in every direction, forcing a unique perspective. Curator: That tension might reflect Johnson’s personal struggle as a Black artist navigating the art world, both in the US and abroad, while battling both economic hardship and racial injustice. Those broad strokes were made by an artist working within a very specific social environment and trying to create art for everyone. He democratized not just the image but his own artistic processes. Editor: Agreed, and to further emphasize Johnson's message the materiality comes to the fore in a unique way with the roughness adding to the work’s primitive elegance, don't you think? How that choice underscores the rawness of city living, the weight of history bearing down. Curator: A weight communicated through artistic and material choices available, produced and circulated. That makes it such an intriguing piece to experience here today. Editor: Indeed, so many entry points, visually and conceptually. It resonates on so many levels.