Harlem Street 1941

William H. Johnson’s 1941 painting “Harlem Street” depicts a vibrant and bustling street scene in the heart of Harlem, New York City. The artist uses bold, simplified forms and bright colors to capture the energy of the neighborhood. The buildings are rendered with flat planes of color, while the figures are outlined in black and filled in with a limited palette of blues, yellows, and reds. The painting celebrates the beauty and resilience of African American life in Harlem, and its simplified style evokes a sense of folk art.