Ski Jump 1946

William H. Johnson created this painting of skiers at an unknown date using bold color and simplified shapes. I can imagine him layering these flat planes of color, one after another, trying to capture that feeling of speed and movement. I love the way he’s arranged the skiers in this gravity-defying space of blue and white; it feels both energetic and slightly surreal. I think that Johnson’s way of painting offers a unique lens through which we can see the world and experience it in a new way. The figures are defined by blocks of color like bright green, red, yellow, and purple, and the thick, opaque paint gives the surface a tactile presence. I feel like he’s in conversation with other painters, like Marsden Hartley, for example, who also sought to express raw emotion and spiritual depth through simplified forms and vibrant color. Ski Jump celebrates the enduring power of painting to convey feeling, intention, and meaning.