The artwork titled “Café,” created in 1940 by William H. Johnson, is an exemplar of Naïve Art (Primitivism) and belongs to the genre of genre painting. The piece is characterized by its simplistic and unrefined style, which is a hallmark of the Naïve Art movement.
In the artwork, two figures are seated at a café table, suggesting a social interaction. The man on the left is attired in a plaid suit with a hat, while the woman on the right dons a white dress and a wide-brimmed purple hat. The simplicity of the lines and the intentional lack of perspective serve to create a striking and vivid composition. The table before them holds a bottle and glasses, elements that further indicate a casual and leisurely ambiance. The background is rendered in plain hues, emphasizing the figures and their interaction as the central focus of the piece. The overall effect is one of stylized realism, capturing a moment of everyday life in a manner that is both direct and evocative.
