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Recovered Views: African American Portraits, 1912–1925 presents 40 photographs from a truly extraordinary collection. These portraits are more than just stunning images; they document life in a vibrant black community in a small Midwestern city, a society rarely depicted in any medium.

The story of how these photographs came to light is almost as fascinating as the images themselves. In 1999, local researchers learned of a group of glass-plate negatives held by a prominent black family in Lincoln. It was immediately obvious from both the unique subject matter of the negatives and their exceptional artistic quality that this constituted an important find. Local and national publicity about the find led to the discovery of another huge cache of negatives by the same artist. Over 300 negatives have surfaced so far.

The photographs are attributed to John Johnson, son of a black Civil War veteran and a lifelong resident of Lincoln. The brilliant use of space and proportion within the frame, the handling of natural light, and skill with the camera demonstrate that this was not the work of an amateur but of a highly accomplished professional. The images give evidence of a striking rapport with the sitters, an ability to make them feel at ease. The photographer and his subjects surely would have been aware of racial tensions in Lincoln during this period of great transition. Nevertheless, a sense of calm and dignity permeates the subjects.

The 40 prints in Recovered Views are digitally printed, high-resolution scans from the original prints and glass negatives. Curated by John Carter of the Nebraska State Historical Society, the exhibition offers viewers an opportunity to see selections from one of the most important American artistic and historical discoveries of recent years.