Farm Family 1940

William H. Johnson made this painting, Farm Family, with such vividness that it feels like a memory— his memory, or maybe one we all share? Look how the colors pop, pure and direct, setting a scene that’s both simple and profound. I can feel the artist's hand moving confidently, laying down these shapes with intention. The figures and farm tools are rendered in such a way that they appear bold and almost childlike. The painting offers a world seen through the eyes of someone deeply connected to the land and its people. I can’t help but think about Johnson’s journey, his time in Europe, and how he circled back to his roots. Painting the life he knew, maybe simplifying it, but also amplifying the emotional weight of the everyday. It’s a conversation across time, from folk art traditions to modernist expression. Each artist is in dialogue with one another.