Ambulance on the Go 1942

William H. Johnson made this painting, Ambulance on the Go, with an eye for what’s essential. Look at the row of ambulances, snaking up the road, each one a little different, each one vital. I imagine Johnson, brush in hand, figuring out how to show us movement and urgency with just a few strokes. The paint isn't trying to trick you; it's laid down flat, honest. The red crosses pop against the muted greens and blues, a symbol of hope, maybe a little anxiety too. I wonder if he was thinking about the war, or maybe just the everyday struggles of people needing help. There's a simplicity here, not naive, but deeply felt. Johnson reminds me that painting can be direct, emotional, and still leave room for us to bring our own stories to the canvas. I see echoes of folk art, a connection to something primal and universal. It reminds us how artists, across time, speak to each other in a visual language.