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Women Builders (painting)

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Women Builders
ArtistWilliam H. Johnson
Year1945
Mediumoil on paperboard
Dimensions95.7 cm × 86.7 cm (37 5⁄8 14 in × 34 1⁄8 in)
LocationSmithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC

Women Builders, is a painting by American artist William H. Johnson. Johnson painted this in 1945 as part of his Fighters for Freedom series.[1]

Johnson was inspired by the 1931 book Women Builders written by Sadie lola Daneil and illustrated by Hallie Q. Brown. The children's book contains biographies of Black women who Daneil considered pioneers in education, finance, and social institutions.[2][3] Included in the painting are images of the seven subjects of the book as well as a portrait of the author, Sadie lola Daneil.[4]

Depicted are:

The oil on paperboard painting is in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM).[4] It was donated to SAAM by the Harmon Foundation in 1967. It was included in the traveling exhibition Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Robinson, Shantay. "How Painting Portraits of Freedom Fighters Became William H. Johnson's Life's Work". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  2. ^ Daniel, Sadie Iola. "Women Builders". NYPL Digital Collections. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Women Builders". Cleveland Public Library. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Women Builders". Smithsonian American Art Museum. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. ^ "William H. Johnson sparks bold conversations and engagement". Art Bridges Foundation Partner Story - Gibbes Museum of Art. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
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