Most Americans have probably never heard of him, yet William H. Johnson is one of our greatest artists. Classically trained in Paris, his work took off when he infused his academic skills with his folk-art roots. Johnson did most of his painting in Europe and Harlem, but Mom and Dad was painted during a trip back home to Florence, South Carolina. The National Museum of American Art has a fantastic archive of Johnson's works, many of which can be viewed online.

David Lasky