Children at Ice Cream Stand 1939

William H. Johnson painted “Children at Ice Cream Stand” with watercolor and pen. His approach to mark making, well, it’s like a kid let loose with crayons, and I mean that in the best possible way. There’s something so direct and unfussy about it. The colors are so flat and juicy, laid down with a freedom that just makes you smile. The buildings in the background are these blocky, light blue shapes, like a child's drawing of a city. Look at the way he’s outlined everything with pen; it gives the whole scene this playful, almost cartoonish vibe. Notice how the pen strokes vary in thickness, giving a real sense of the hand, of the artist working. And the faces! They’re so simple, yet so expressive. There’s a real sense of community and joy in this piece. I’m reminded of Horace Pippin, another artist who didn’t let formal training get in the way of telling his stories. Ultimately, what I love about this painting is how it embraces simplicity and, in doing so, captures something so genuine about human connection.