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"Jitterbugs" Series & "Dancer With Soldier Boy" by William H. Johnson (1901-1970): A visual essay

  • Liz Publika
  • Apr 14, 2020
  • 1 min read

Updated: Dec 23, 2025

by Liz Publika


William H. Johnson, Jitterbugs (I), ca. 1940-1941, gouache and pen and ink on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1063

Jitterbugs (I) (c.1940-1941)

Gouache and pen and ink on paperboard

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1063


William H. Johnson, Jitterbugs (II), ca. 1941, gouache and pen and ink with pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1047R-V

Jitterbugs (II) (1941)

Gouache and pen and ink with pencil on paper

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1047R-V


William H. Johnson, Jitterbugs (III), ca. 1941, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Douglas E. Younger, 1971.133R-V

Jitterbugs (III) (1941)

Screenprint on paper,

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of Mrs. Douglas E. Younger, 1971.133R-V


William H. Johnson, Jitterbugs (IV), ca. 1941, tempera and pen and ink with pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1090R-V

Jitterbugs (IV) (1941)

Tempera and pen and ink with pencil on paper

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1090R-V


William H. Johnson, Jitterbugs (V), ca. 1941-1942, tempera and pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1101

Jitterbugs (V) (1941-1942)

Tempera and pen and ink on paper

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1101


Dancer with Soldier Boy (1942)

Tempera and pen and ink on paper

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.1140R-V



Note*All images are courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

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