Street Musicians

c. 1940

William H. Johnson

Associated Names
William H. Johnson

Artist, American, 1901 - 1970

The image displays geometric shapes and bold lines forming an abstract composition of two figures. The figures resemble musicians, with one holding a guitar and the other a violin. The shapes mimic the curves and strings of the instruments. The colors are vibrant and contrasting, with angular forms representing hats, faces, and hands. The background consists of muted, abstract blocks of color, suggesting an outdoor setting.
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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Thurlow Evans Tibbs, Jr., Washington, DC; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1992; acquired 2014 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2003

  • Black is a Color: African American Art at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati, Ohio; Mobile Museum of Art, Alabama; Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota, 2003-2007

2015

  • Focus on the Corcoran: Works on Paper, 1860-1990, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2015

Inscriptions

center verso in graphite: Street Musicians / FO-326-A(9) / William H. Johnson

Wikidata ID

Q77008394

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