“Ezekiel Saw the Wheel,” created in 1945 by William H. Johnson, is a religious painting executed in the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. The artwork depicts an abstract figure set against a simplified landscape background, characterized by vivid colors and basic geometric shapes. Prominent in the composition are two large, wheel-like forms in the upper region, which are rendered with striking primary colors, and suggest spiritual or visionary imagery associated with the biblical prophet Ezekiel. The figure below the wheels is in a dynamic, expressive pose with upraised hands, possibly in an act of worship or revelation. Surrounding elements include stylized vegetation, a crescent moon, and a sun, contributing to the overall thematic and visual narrative. The naive execution reflects a deliberate simplicity, emphasizing a direct and emotive form of storytelling.
