Thomas Berger Johnson Paintings

The “heavy impasto” technique, as Johnson described it, is “the juxtaposition of color” achieved by using two separate colors of paint on the brush at one time.




The mind when subjected to a two color-pattern, shifts from one color…to the other creating a sense of color movement or a shimmering effect. The edges of…alternating bars of red and blue…give a sensory stimulus to the mind creating an image of purple. If we were to thoroughly mix the red and blue pigment the effect would still be purple, but without the movement or shimmer, as there would be no sensory interplay between the colors.

Tenements (Lincoln), oil, 1939



Tenements (Lincoln), oil, 1939



“O” Street Flag Shanty (Lincoln), oil, 1941

Smoke Drift (Burlington Roundhouse, Lincoln),  oil, 1949



Smoke Drift (Burlington Roundhouse, Lincoln), oil, 1949

Neighborhood Backyards (Lincoln),  oil. 1948



Neighborhood Backyards (Lincoln), oil. 1948

Shoppers (Lincoln),  oil, 1954



Shoppers (Lincoln), oil, 1954

Antelope Creek Bridge or Blue Rhapsody  (Lincoln), oil, 1949



Antelope Creek Bridge or Blue Rhapsody (Lincoln), oil, 1949

Blue River Dam No. 3 (Milford), oil, 1947



Blue River Dam No. 3 (Milford), oil, 1947

Giants in the Earth (Lincoln), oil, 1957



Giants in the Earth (Lincoln), oil, 1957

Pause for Refreshments (Clay County, Nebraska),  oil, 1957



Pause for Refreshments (Clay County, Nebraska), oil, 1957

Spring Thaw (rural Seward, Nebraska),  oil, 1948



Spring Thaw (rural Seward, Nebraska), oil, 1948

Noon Chores (central Nebraska),  oil, 1951



Noon Chores (central Nebraska), oil, 1951

Portrait of the Johnsons (Seward, Nebraska),  oil, 1952



Portrait of the Johnsons (Seward, Nebraska), oil, 1952

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Nebraska and the resettlement of displaced persons after World War II, part 2

Nebraska and the resettlement of displaced persons after World War II, part 2

Lending a Helping Hand: Social Settlement of Omaha

Lending a Helping Hand: Social Settlement of Omaha

Nebraska and the resettlement of displaced persons after World War II, part 1

Nebraska and the resettlement of displaced persons after World War II, part 1

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.

Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.