Lot 312, Auction 4/20/2026: Black Joe Jackson Painting – “Togeder”

$260.00

In stock

Black Joe Jackson (American, 1922-1997). “Togeder” house paint on plywood, n.d. Signed down right margin and titled at lower left. A poignant meditation on protection, tension, and resilience, “Togeder” by Black Joe Jackson captures a fleeting but emotionally charged moment in the life of a Southern family. Painted in house paint on salvaged plywood, the work brims with raw sincerity and narrative power, rendered in Jackson’s distinct folk vernacular. At the left, a figure stands at the edge of a wooden structure, one hand clutching a black pail, the other raised high, brandishing a cane or farming tool in a posture that suggests confrontation or fury. His form is rigid, and his presence looms with an unsettling intensity. Opposite him, seated on a bench beneath a turbulent gray sky, a woman turns toward him with quiet urgency. Her arm, cloaked in a blue dress patterned with white dots, stretches protectively across two children at her side.(H-18″ X W-12″ X D-0.2″)

The gesture is maternal, shielding, and resolute. One child looks up at her with evident concern, while the other leans in close. Together, they form a tight cluster of safety and solidarity, visually and emotionally bound by her presence. Behind them, a mass of yellowed foliage and expressive strokes of stormy paint suggest both seasonal decay and a brewing tempest. The landscape vibrates with unease, echoing the emotional tension between the figures.

Though named “Togeder,” the painting is less a celebration of harmony than a testament to endurance. It is about sticking close, shielding what matters, and weathering the storm – together.

About the Artist: Black Joe Jackson was a self-taught African-American artist born to a sharecropper family near Atlanta, Georgia in 1920. Jackson created paintings on wooden boards and used easily available materials such as house paint an scrap wood. He was born with dyslexia, and the writings on his paintings demonstrate this. He is oftentimes described as a folk artist or an outsider artist due to his playful, naive style. Jackson’s themes reflect memories from his childhood in the South.

Condition: Signed down right margin and titled at lower left. Painting in excellent overall condition with suspension wire on verso for display.

Provenance: private Rochester, Minnesota, USA collection, acquired from 1990 -1998

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all purchases.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.