Early Morning Work 1940

"Early Morning Work" (1940) by William H. Johnson depicts a Black family going about their daily life. The stylized figures and bold colors are characteristic of Johnson's work, which often celebrated Black culture and rural life in the American South. The scene, likely set in the early morning, shows a family preparing to work the land, their tools and a donkey evident in the composition. This piece captures the dignity and resilience of Black farmers during a challenging time in American history, and Johnson's signature style, which he developed while studying in Europe, is a striking blend of modernism and folk art traditions.