Joshua Johnson, Painter Main Menu

Introduction

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The portraitist Joshua Johnson (circa 1763 to circa 1824) is an enigmatic figure about whom relatively little is known, yet what is known invites investigation, speculation, and fascination. His paintings of families and children reflect a stylistic simplicity associated with itinerant artists of early America. Though not a widely-known figure in his time, and nearly forgotten after, he was rediscovered in the twentieth century, when art historians came to know him as the first African-American portrait painter to make a living from his art.

Johnson is known to have worked during the 1790s to the 1830s in Baltimore, Maryland. Since the discovery of his identification in 1939 by J. Hall Pleasants, Johnson's life and work have left researchers with more questions than answers. Over the years, scholars have explored the possibilities surrounding his race, life dates, name, and work, and have attributed over 80 paintings to him. A turning point came for scholars in 1996 when his bill of sale and manumission papers were found and published at the Maryland Historical Society. These papers put all questions of Johnson’s race to rest. The body of work I wish to look at in this historiography spans the time period of 1939 to 2006 and includes exhibition catalogues, scholarly articles, art survey books featuring African-American artists, a monograph, and a master’s thesis with the artist as its subject.

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  1. Joshua Johnson, Painter Greta Kuriger Suiter
  2. Joshua Johnson, Painter Greta Kuriger Suiter