Knitting Party 1942

"Knitting Party" (1942) by William H. Johnson is a painting that depicts four African American women dressed in nurses’ uniforms and engaged in a knitting party. The simplified figures and flat, colorful planes are characteristic of Johnson’s style, which has been identified as a form of Primitive or Naive art. The American flag and the Red Cross symbols in the background indicate the women’s contribution to the war effort. The painting celebrates the work of African Americans during World War II and highlights their role in the war effort.