William H. Johnson first traveled to Europe when he was twenty-five, settling in Paris for a year before moving to the south of France. Here, Johnson tried out the style of French impressionists, using thick strokes of pure color to evoke bright sunlight and luminous shadows falling on an ancient house in the town of Chartres. The image suggests Johnson’s optimism and excitement at finding himself in Europe, where American artists had gone for generations to sharpen their skills
