Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 1944

William H. Johnson made this painting called "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and like much of his work, it’s got this amazing directness. He's not trying to trick you with fancy techniques. The figures are painted flat, in simple shapes, but the colors! Oh, the colors vibrate, don’t they? Look at that salmon pink background, up against the ochre of the chariot. Each form is outlined with purpose, almost like paper cut-outs. The horse pulling the chariot is so peculiar, like it’s been formed from wire or string. The brush strokes aren't hidden; the texture is really present, like he’s wrestling with the paint, trying to get it just right. It puts me in mind of other self-taught painters, like Bill Traylor, but with a kind of optimism that bursts through the surface. It’s a bold, beautiful statement that lets you feel the joy and the labor, all at once.