Jacob Lawrence was an African-American artist that was well known for his series of creations that provided a representation of the African-American life. Born September 7, 1917; Jacob Lawrence became one the best African-American painters amongst the 20th century. Constructing breathtaking work based on living life in Harlem, historical events, and important justice such as, social realism, and the African-American experiences. It is clear as to why he achieved so much success in the early parts of his career. Jacob Lawrence used many important aspects of life to paint a story, but the importance of each piece lies in each brush stroke. From the civil rights movement of the 1960’s, to his Harlem life; Jacob Lawrence had many stories to tell, such as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Toussaint L’Ouverture. The African-American life is an essential part of history, but the importance in others mistreatment was just as vital. Jacob Lawrence not only provided beautiful art to view but he also displayed a story to be read.
Lawrence has multiple series that reflect on the history of African-American’s past. This is Harlem, is a painting that does a fantastic job conveying that. This painting is full of geometric planes to recreate a community that so many called home. Lawrence’s use of colors are helpful to get an understanding of Harlem. Red and yellow rectangles and triangles are used to create the rooftops in Harlem, while the colors black and brown are used to display the abstractions of each building or object painted. Jacob Lawrence seems to use the same colors (black and brown) to create the community to represent the lack of acknowledgement they were given during this time. The people blended into the community as they did during Lawrence’s era, however, in the painting they also stand out in the way they were intended to. In the same way, Lawrence used the colors red, blue and yellow to highlight the windows of the Harlem’s community church. This tells me there is a sense of importance when it comes to the church standing out in the painting. With the church painted mostly white, it displays a sense of harmony within the African-American life. As I view this painting, I am noticing a bit of repetition when it comes to the geometric shapes along with colors that are repeated within this painting that corresponds with the religious iconography. Faith and religion is a constant rotation in Harlem’s’ daily lives. For example, the red blue and yellow triangular shapes that were used to recreate the church’s windows are also used within the community homes and or apartments. The cross on top of the church is also found to be recreated as the top of the roof. Viewing these subtle repetitions, it is clear that religion was a way of life for those who lived in Harlem. It was not just a Sunday thing. Lawrence does a great job writing Harlem’s community. Each shape is repeated within each building or image. It displays that Harlem is not a town, a city, or a block. It is clear within the red, blue and yellow colors and the triangles, squares, and rectangles, that Harlem is a family. A community that fights to stay up and they do so together. This is Harlem, presents the viewer an idea of what black life in Harlem represented through the lens of one of the most talented African-American artists. Lawrence, tells the important story of Harlem; the history behind his childhood. His upbringing. His life. Lawrence presents the viewer an understanding of American’s history.
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Jacob Lawrence used his life experiences and the lives of those around him to paint a vision of significance. While living in Harlem, Jacob used his experiences combined with others to reach his community and on the struggles they endured. His life as a young African-American was a major influence when creating beautiful masterpieces. With every piece Lawrence created he provided his audience with personal stories. He used his artistic platform to bring not just America’s but African-American Stories to the light. His paintings not only convey understanding of a significant time in history but they provided individuals with hope and determination over their life struggles and difficulties that they faced. Paintings such as Escape, by Jacob Lawrence, not only painted Harriet Tubman’s struggle through slavery, but more importantly, it shines a light on her escape and successful life after. It was during this era, that it was not uncommon to find history books that excluded not only Harriet Tubman, but other heroic African-Americans as well. It was the painful past of his culture that pushed and inspired him to create works of art that highlighted the mistreatment. All his series did an amazing job at telling all humankind' aspirations. In the time of his education, Jacob Lawrence had learned the history of his culture through research on his own time. With the lack of black history being taught, Lawrence used powerful stories to enlighten the word. For instance, Jacob Lawrence’s series were designed to draw attention to African-American everyday struggles in his era. It is clear that he found his art was a great way to draw attention to the acceptance of cultural experiences. Although his work might be seen as straight to the point or forceful, it is making the statement that art can have the ability to create social change. By presenting his era with the important change that needs to happen by displaying art that not only has affected his culture but those around him, Lawrence’s paintings were the visual change the world needed to see. His childhood and life experience has helped him develop beautiful stories that needed to be seen and heard. This was a huge importance during his era, when they lacked the acknowledgement of any equality and diversity.
Jacob Lawrence was a young individual that had an interest in history. However, during his education, black history was not a subject that was viewed as important. Growing up in Harlem, Lawrence found ways to educate himself about black history; whether it was attending history club or the neighborhood public library, Jacob Lawrence became well acquainted with America’s history. “It was this absence of black stories and black history… that inspired his life’s work.” (Diamond, 2017). Jacob Lawrence created readable art. Each painting told an important story. From Harriet Tubman to the everyday life of those who lived in Harlem, Lawrence put it upon himself to tell the story that many were not willing to tell. Every subject and style of paintings he created was a purposeful choice. For instance, Jacob Lawrence’s series focused on some of black history's most historical figures: Frederick Douglass, Toussaint L’Ouverture, and Harriet Tubman. Each story held a high level of importance, and each story was painted with a tremendous amount of respect and honor of the life they lived and the pain they endured.
Looking through Jacob Lawrence’s series of painting was a little bit confusing. Each painting had an overwhelming amount of detail. Trying to understand the narrative was complicated. I was not sure what to look at and or if I was looking at the piece of work correctly. Once I began to dive into his history and learn the inspiration for his paintings, it helped me to gain a better understanding on how to read each piece. Even though I still find his painting to have an overwhelming amount of detail, Jacob Lawrence’s inspirations to each piece provides the viewer a lens to look through. It provides the observer a map to better understand the piece and how to read the story he intended on sharing. I cannot say my opinion changed after learning his history, but I can say I respected his work that much more. To learn that he taught himself the critical parts of black history was incredible. When he lived in an era that refused to teach children the African-American facts, he made a conscientious choice to paint those stories for the world to see.
- Diamond, Anna. “Why the Works of Visionary Artist Jacob Lawrence Still Resonate a Century
- After HisBirth.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 5 Sept. 2017, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/why-works-visionary-artist-jacob-lawrence-still-resonate-century-after-his-birth-180964706/.
- Duggleby, John, et al. Story Painter: the Life of Jacob Lawrence. Chronicle Books, 1998
- Wheat, Ellen Harkins. “Jacob Lawrence and the Legacy of Harlem.” Archives of American Art Journal. Vol. 26, no. 1, 1986, pp. 18-25.
- “Jacob Lawrence.” Smithsonian American Art Museum, https://americanart.si.edu/artist/jacoblawrence-2828
- Benson, Richard, and Carl Van Vechten. “Jacob Lawrence, from the Portfolio 'O, Write My Name': American Portraits, Harlem Heroes.” Smithsonian American Art Museum, https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/jacob-lawrence-portfolio-o-write-my-name-american-portraits-harlem-heroes-1839
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