Thomas Berger Johnson

Thomas Berger Johnson (1890 – January 1968) was a Nebraska artist, Post-Impressionist painter, metal sculptor, and draftsman. He was known to use bold impasto, juxtaposing colors to create movement and an almost shimmering effect, in paintings that represent Nebraska locations. Most of his work, donated by his widow, is in housed at the Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Nebraska State Historical Society found the work important because his paintings represented places in Nebraska accurately, including some that no longer existed.

Early life

Thomas Johnson's father Hjalmar Johnson was a Swedish immigrant who worked as a stationary engineer at a large hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. He married Christina Maddison, a pastry cook. Thomas was the second son of the family of five, born in 1890. Johnson's first interest in art was sparked by his father, a craftsman who sketched and built ship models. At 16 he rejoined his mother, sisters, and grandmother in Stanton, Iowa. To make money for the family he worked at Eklofs Blacksmith Shop in Valley, Nebraska.

List of works These are some of the works of art that are held by the Nebraska State Historical Society.

Paintings Paintings include:

Good Afternoon Ma'am, oil, 1928 Street Scene, oil, 1938 Sentinel, oil, 1942 Timber Line, oil, 1942 Mirror, oil, 1944 Kansas City Bluffs, oil, 1945 Patron Saint of Beggars, oil, 1946 Ore Mill, oil, 1946 Cathedral Spires, oil, 1947 Glen Eyre, oil, 1948 Pastoral, oil, 1949 Natural Bridge, oil, 1950 Pioneer Cabin, oil, 1951 Tapestry, oil, 1951 Low Sun, oil, 1953 Lake of the Ozarks, oil, 1957 Reflections, oil, 1957 Bayou Reflections, oil, 1960 River Dwellers, oil, 1960 As the Wind Blows, oil, 1962 Patriarchs, oil, 1962 Sky Towers, oil, 1964 Cliffs, oil, 1964 Tipton's Barn, oil, 1964 Sioux River, oil, 1965,

Drawings Drawings include:

Today Shalt Thou Be With Me in Paradise, charcoal, 1952 Hill Top, pencil, 1932 Crow Ghost, pencil, 1967 Fertility Cults - Butterfly, pencil, 1966 The Swallow Clan, pencil, 1966 The Star Maiden, pencil, 1967 Baptismal, pencil, 1967 Footprints I Have Made, pencil, 1967 Mother Corn, pencil, 1967 Ode to the Pasque Flower, pencil, 1967 Roll the Old Chariot Along, pencil, 1946 Just a Closer Walk with Thee, pencil, 1945 My Lord's A-Writing' All the Time, pencil, 1946 Hold the Light, pencil, 1946 Keep Me From Sinking Down, pencil, 1944 When I'm Dead, pencil, 1951 O' Rocks Don't Fall on Me, pencil, 1944 Go Down Death, pencil, 1944 Pastoral, pencil, 1949 Was Moses Like That, pencil, undated He is Not Here For He is Risen/They Took the Money and Did As They Were Taught, pencil, 1943 Descent From the Cross, pencil, 1943 I Am Innocent of the Blood of This Just Person, See Ye To It, charcoal, 1942 Jesus Being Taken to Tomb, charcoal, 1942

Block prints Block prints include:

Bock and Tree - Balzak, block print, undated Eroded Knoll, block print, 1963 Tree-Wyoming, block print, undated End of Ridge, block print, undated Rock and Tree - Balzak, block print, undated Line Pine, block print, undated Slit Rock and Mulberry, block print, undated Shoes or Portrait of the Johnsons, block print, 1965 Rock Ridge - South Dakota, block print, 1963 Rock and Pine Tree, block print, undated

Metal works Metal works include:

Phoenix, iron, c. 1935 Ewer, iron, c. 1935 Lamp, iron, c. 1935