William Henry Johnson
1901-1970
Ski Jump, lot of three works
three pencil sketches related to Johnson's painting, "Ski Jump" (c. 1939-1946)
https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/ski-jump-12023

a. 4-3/4 x 8 inches (stamped)
b. 4-3/4 x 8 inches (stamped)
c. 6-1/4 x 9-3/8 inches (stamped, signed)

marked with estate stamp: Tilhorer Niels Lindberg. Nr.Broby. Fyn. ( From the collection of Niels Lindberg. Nr. Broby. Funen.

Provenance: the estate of Niels Lindberg, to a private collection, Copenhagen, Denmark.


Josephine Rydeng, Johnson scholar writes:

These studies may have been created during William H. Johnson’s time in Norway, where skiing is deeply embedded in national identity.
In Norwegian culture, skiing is more than a sport—it is a symbol of heritage and resilience, often associated with the landscape and rural traditions. As an old saying goes, “Norwegians are born with skis on their feet,” reflecting how integral skiing is to the country’s self-image.
The three sketches may have served as visual studies for William H. Johnson’s tempera-on-paper work Ski Jump (ca. 1939–1946)