Artists and thinkers of the Harlem Renaissance wrestled with a defining question: What kind of art should Black artists create? Painter William H. Johnson—whose practice spanned Nordic landscapes, modernist portraits, and vivid depictions of Black life—became central to this debate.
In this talk, Dr. Dalila Scruggs, Augusta Savage Curator of African American Art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), traces Johnson’s artistic journey and the critical responses that shaped his reputation. She also reflects on SAAM’s stewardship of the world’s largest Johnson collection, and how the museum has carried his legacy from the rise of the Black Arts Movement to today.
