Skip to Main Content

Due to required maintenance, some galleries and artwork may be off view. Learn more.

Closed today

c. 1944-1945

Three Friends (Three Girls)

William Henry Johnson

American, 1901 - 1970

Johnson was born in South Carolina, pursued his art education in New York City, and lived abroad beginning in the mid-1920s. In 1938, with World War II looming, he returned to the United States and settled in New York.

Working with bright colors and flat forms, Johnson painted the dance, music, and fashion of Harlem. He also captured scenes reminiscent of his early years in the rural South. These two themes also appear in work by Claude Clark, a Georgia-born artist who spent time in Philadelphia.

This record is part of an ongoing effort to share accurate and evolving information. If you notice anything we should improve, we welcome your feedback at [email protected]

Images on this site are shared for educational use. For image rights, permissions, or to learn more about image rights and access, email [email protected]