Harlem Street 1941

William H. Johnson painted Harlem Street with oil on board, offering a vibrant, abstracted view of urban life. Johnson, an African-American artist, chose Harlem as his subject, a historically significant center of Black culture in the United States. The painting uses bold colors and flattened forms to create a lively, energetic scene. This distinct style emerged from Johnson’s conscious decision to move away from European academic traditions, instead embracing a more ‘primitive’ or ‘naive’ aesthetic. It reflected a desire to connect with his heritage and the everyday experiences of African Americans. By moving away from the established institutional norms for painting, Johnson sought to empower his own community and create a truly radical artistic language. Scholars of Johnson’s work can draw on a range of archives and resources, including historical census data and community records, to understand the social and cultural dynamics shaping Harlem at the time. Through such research, the meaning of art becomes contingent on the social and institutional context in which it was made.