The artwork entitled “Anna Mae,” created by William H. Johnson in 1944, exemplifies the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and is a portrait genre piece.
This artwork features a young girl seated on a vivid pink chair set against a minimalist blue background. The girl, named Anna Mae, is depicted wearing a green dress adorned with white dots and white shoes with pink laces. Her hands rest upon her lap, and her demeanor is calm and composed, with a blue bow adorning her hair. The simplicity and bold color choices in this portrait align with the Naïve Art style, characterized by a straightforward, unschooled approach to depiction. The strong outlines and flat areas of color are indicative of William H. Johnson’s unique artistic style.