22

William H. Johnson

(1901-1970)

Breakdown.

Color pochoir with hand additions on wove paper, circa 1941.
With a typed label affixed to the verso.
Approximately 14 1/2 x 18 in. (36.8 x 45.7 cm.)

  • Provenance:
    The Harmon Foundation, New York.
    Ulli Beier, Nigeria.
    Private collection, Nigeria (1965).
    Thence by descent, private collection, England and then France.
  • Notes:
    Breakdown is a very scarce example of an important American print and an iconic image of the Harlem Renaissance. While living in New York in the early 1940s, William H. Johnson printed his screenprints, depicting these colorful images of both the rural South and Harlem. This image is based on the large oil painting The Breakdown, circa 1940-1941 in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This is one of only 17 known pochoir and screenprints Johnson made. He worked in this medium for only three years until tragedy struck in 1943 — his Danish wife, Holcha, was diagnosed with breast cancer and died months later.

    This is the first time this scarce print has come to auction. We have located only three other impressions in public collections — the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Library of Congress and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. These are experimental and painterly prints, using both screens and pochoir (hand-colored stencils). Each impression is proof like, with a slightly different registration.
  • Condition:
    Please contact the Specialist for the auction to request a condition report.

    Condition reports and additional images are provided as a courtesy and should be used by you to aid in the formation of your own opinion regarding condition. All material is sold subject to Swann's standard Terms and Conditions of Sale as published in our catalogues and posted on our website, and include the following terms: (1) all property is sold "as-is"; and (2) works cannot be returned on the basis of condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Upon request, Swann will facilitate the shipping of purchases to out-of-town buyers at an additional charge for packing, shipping and insurance, but will not be responsible for any loss, damage or delay resulting from the packing, handling and shipping thereof. Unless specific instructions are received, Swann is the sole judge of the method to be used for shipment. Packing and shipping costs will be noted on the invoice mailed to successful bidders after the sale, and are based on the actual costs involved. Be advised that a full commercial invoice must accompany any purchase shipped outside the US.

October 7, 2025 12:00 PM EDT
New York, NY, US

Swann Auction Galleries

You agree to pay a buyer’s premium, as outlined below, and any applicable taxes and shipping.
Buyer's Premium
$0 - $100,000:
27.00%
$100,001 - $1,000,000:
22.00%
$1,000,001+:
12.00%

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $149 $10
$150 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $5,999 $200
$6,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $20,000
$500,000 + $50,000