Portrait of an African American Man 1820

This 1820 portrait by Joshua Johnson depicts an African American man in a formal setting, emphasizing his status and respectability. The sitter’s piercing gaze and crisp attire, complete with a white cravat and gold buttons, were common conventions in portraiture of the time. While the identity of the sitter remains unknown, the painting offers a glimpse into the lives of Black people during the early 19th century. Johnson, a self-taught artist working in Baltimore, is considered one of the earliest known African American portrait painters. His work is notable for its realism and sensitivity to detail.