Chain Gang 1939

"Chain Gang" (1939) by William H. Johnson is a powerful depiction of the harsh realities of the chain gang system, a common form of forced labor in the American South during the early 20th century. The three figures in the painting, all African-American men, are shown in striped prison garb and shackled at the ankles, their stoic expressions and laborious postures revealing the oppressive conditions they endure. The simplified forms and bold colors characteristic of Johnson's style further amplify the emotional weight of the scene. This work is a poignant commentary on the exploitation of Black Americans during a time of intense racial injustice.