The artwork titled “Sowing” was created by William H. Johnson in the year 1940. It is associated with the art movements of Naïve Art (Primitivism) and Social Realism. This work falls under the genre of genre painting, which typically depicts scenes from everyday life.
The artwork displays a vibrant rural scene, characteristic of Johnson’s style, emphasizing simple, bold forms and bright colors. Two African American individuals, dressed in white shirts paired with blue and yellow hats, are depicted engaged in agricultural activities. The figure on the left handles farming tools, possibly tilling the soil, while the other figure on the right appears to be sowing seeds from a sack. There is a prominent blue horse and a strikingly blue structure in the background against a backdrop of yellow and brown striped fields. The simplistic, flat perspective and the use of strong, outlined forms are hallmarks of Johnson’s technique, encapsulating the essence of Naïve Art and Social Realism by highlighting the importance and dignity of everyday rural labor.
