The artwork titled “New Born Babe,” created in 1939 by William H. Johnson, is a quintessential example of Naïve Art, also known as Primitivism. The piece falls under the genre of genre painting, depicting everyday life in a simplified, folk-art style that is characteristic of Naïve Art.
In “New Born Babe,” the artist presents a scene that revolves around the theme of birth and reverence. The central figure is a woman holding a newborn child, her gaze calm and serene. Surrounding her are two figures with angelic features, distinguished by their golden wings and white garments, standing in an attitude of prayer or contemplation. The background features stylized, flat tree forms and a pastoral landscape rendered in muted tones of pink, blue, and green, creating a harmonious yet simplistic environment. The figures are depicted with a deliberate naivety that emphasizes flatness and bold outlines, capturing the essence of innocence and purity in both its thematic and stylistic execution.
