Emma Van Name
Artist: Joshua Johnson (American, 1758–1829)
Original Dimensions: 29" x 23"
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
About Artwork: (ca. 1805) "This compelling portrait of a Maryland toddler is widely regarded as an icon of American folk painting. Included in numerous international exhibitions since its discovery in the late 1950s by Edith Halpert, then New York’s leading dealer of folk and modern art, it is now accepted as an important work by Joshua Johnson, the earliest known professional African American painter. Son of a White man and an enslaved mother of color, Johnson apprenticed to a blacksmith before securing his freedom in 1782, becoming part of Baltimore’s large free Black population.
"Emma Van Name" is arguably his most ambitious and engaging portrait of an individual child. Revealing the hallmarks of the presumably self-taught artist’s characteristic style, the painting is distinguished by a bravura demonstration of his talents in its nuanced palette, compositional complexity, and deft handling of details, especially in the child’s dress and demeanor. The portrait’s combination of naturalist precision and imaginative flair underlies the particular appeal of historical folk painting to early twentieth-century modernists." - (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)
We're Here to Help.
Each artwork is printed on demand in a maximum print total of 100 numbered prints. Once the edition is sold out, it will never be reprinted.
Yes. Every print is hand-numbered to mark its place in the edition. Some artists also include a signature, depending on their process.
All frames are custom-built to order using carefully selected materials. They’re designed to complement the artwork and ensure lasting quality.
A portion of every sale goes directly to the featured artist. By collecting their work, you’re helping them continue their creative practice and ensuring their art reaches new audiences.