Frank Tenney Johnson 1874-1939

"Doc" Herron
Acquired by the present owner's grandfather, circa 1950

Very good condition, lined, stable, but slightly raised craquelure; under UV: varnish streaks read unevenly, some tiny isolated retouches and small spot of restoration in lower right corner.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Frank Tenney Johnson's 1904 visit to the Indian community of Manuelita, about twenty five miles from Gallup, New Mexico, had a long lasting impact on the artist. He wrote in a letter to his wife: "There is a fine old picturesque trading post here, where the Navajos are constantly coming and going, particularly at night. They do a lot of their traveling across the desert at night, to avoid the intense desert heat during the daytime. But seeing these people in the moonlight or even the magic light of just the stars has impressed me very deeply" (Harold McCracken, The Frank Tenney Johnson Book, Garden City, New York, 1974, p. 94).

 

Nocturnal subjects like Time to Wake the Cook became a continual theme of Johnson's work from the early years of his career until his death in 1939. The present work dates from the latter part of his career when Johnson was at the height of his popularity. His technique of balancing the density of color in the landscape and figures in the light of the moon became his signature style, widely known as "the Johnson moonlight technique."