The artwork, titled “Let My People Free,” was created by William H. Johnson in 1945. It belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and is a piece of history painting. This artwork poignantly addresses themes of emancipation and racial justice.
In the foreground of the artwork, two central figures are depicted standing on either side of a wooden table that holds an open book and an inkwell. To the left, a bearded man holds a document, while the figure on the right, distinguished by his attire and gray hair, gazes forward. The background is harrowing, showcasing scenes of violence and suffering: several figures are seen hanging from a scaffold, and another figure appears to be being whipped nearby. This juxtaposition of the foreground’s calm yet intense negotiation and the background’s brutality underscores the desperation and urgency of the quest for freedom and justice. The somber tones and stark figures emphasize the gravity of the historical narrative being conveyed.
