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William Henry Johnson (1901-1970) was an American folk artist known for his colorful and primitive style of painting.

1901: Born in Florence, South Carolina
1920s-1930s: Johnson moves to New York City and begins to study art.
1930s: Johnson travels to Europe and becomes exposed to the European modernist art movement.
1938: Johnson moves to France and begins to experiment with new styles and techniques.
1940: Johnson is interned in a French prison camp for Americans during World War II.
1941: Johnson returns to the United States and settles in East Hampton, New York.
1940s-1960s: Johnson continues to paint and exhibit his work. He becomes known for his vivid and primitive style of painting, which draws from a variety of influences, including African American folk art, European modernism, and the American Regionalist movement.
1970: Johnson dies in East Hampton, New York.

Today, Johnson is widely regarded as one of the most important folk artists of the 20th century, and his work can be found in major museum collections around the world.

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Folk art of the 18th-19th centuries in the United States typically featured characteristics such as:
- Use of local or found materials
- Simple and straightforward designs
- Bright colors and bold patterns
- Depictions of daily life and local customs
- Symbolic and abstract representations
- Handmade and often asymmetrical
- Use of basic techniques such as carving, painting, or quilting
- Functionality, as many pieces served practical purposes
- Narrative storytelling
- Influences from cultural traditions and regional styles.

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In this piece of artwork, "Chain Gang" depicts men in black and white clothing to demonstrate their social status in the southern penal system. The two men on the left are almost molded together, representing the need to depend on each other in order to survive the South. The shade of blue on the men's tools and ankles, along with the bold colors in the landscape, results in the melding of folk art and expressionism. The strength of the men is seen through their large hands and feet. One of the men stares at the viewer, his weary gaze showed that these men were capable of enduring forced labor and incarceration.

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In this art piece, William Johnson depicts the "Great Migration", which was a movement where approximately six million African Americans moved from the rural South to the urban North. The large use of red colors symbolizes the hardships and violence that many African Americans had to endure during this time period, and the cross represents the religious faith that provided comfort and guidance for those searching for a new life.

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"I Baptize Thee (oil, 1940)" is a painting by William Henry Johnson depicting a religious scene of a white pastor baptizing a naked African American child. The painting is considered important and reflects Johnson's unique style blending European modernism and African American folk art. It also holds historical and cultural significance as it sheds light on the African American experience in the early 20th century, specifically the religious and social aspects. The painting is known for its bold use of color, brushstrokes and simplified forms.

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William H. Johnson was an African-American painter who was associated with the Harlem Renaissance and created art in a variety of styles throughout his career. However, he is perhaps best known for his brightly colored, folk art-inspired works that often depict scenes from African American life, such as his "Harlem Renaissance" series.

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In the later years of William Henry Johnson's life, he struggled with mental illness and was eventually admitted to a state psychiatric hospital in New York. He lived in the hospital for over 20 years until his death in 1970.

During this time, Johnson's artwork was largely forgotten, but in the 1990s there was a renewed interest in his work, and he is now recognized as an important African American artist of the early 20th century. His paintings have been featured in numerous exhibitions and are part of the collections of many major museums.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm4rQdwxFM4

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