Singing Saints 1940

Sargent Claude Johnson made this print of Singing Saints, we don't know exactly when, using a monochrome palette. What strikes me is how the whole composition seems to be pushing forward, almost as if the figures are stepping out of the frame and into our space. The cross hatching gives the figures and their instrument a sense of volume and presence. It’s like Johnson is building up the forms stroke by stroke, letting the density of the marks define the shadows and contours. Look at how the lines curve and follow the shape of the guitar, giving it this incredible sense of weight and roundness. The way he shades the faces, especially around the mouths, really brings out the emotion in their song. Johnson’s work has a certain kinship with artists like Elizabeth Catlett, who also explored themes of Black identity and community through printmaking. It’s like they’re all part of this ongoing conversation, each adding their voice to the chorus.