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Jacob Armstead Lawrence (September 7, 1917 – June 9, 2000) was an American painter known for his portrayal of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. Lawrence's paintings portray the lives and struggles of African Americans, and have found wide audiences due to their abstract, colorful style and universality of subject matter. He is among the best-known twentieth-century African-American painters, known for his modernist illustrations of everyday life as well as narratives of African-American history and historical figures. Lawrence's works are in the permanent collections of numerous museums, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
So, how many paintings did Jacob Lawrence paint in total?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of paintings | Unknown, but created at least 41 works on the life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, 32 pieces on Frederick Douglass, 31 paintings on Harriet Tubman, 60 paintings for The Migration of the American Negro, and 8 paintings created aboard the Sea Cloud |
| Birth date | 7 September 1917 |
| Birthplace | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| Death date | 9 June 2000 |
| Death place | Seattle, Washington |
| Art style | Dynamic cubism, social realism |
| Art medium | Tempera or gouache on paper or cardboard |
| Notable works | The Migration Series, The Builders, Hospital Series, Struggle Series |
| Career | Taught at various schools and colleges, including Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York (1956–1970), Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture (1968), and University of Washington (1971–1986) |
| Awards and recognition | Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in Fine Arts (1945), National recognition for The Migration Series (1941), Labelled the "foremost Negro artist" by age 30 |
| Exhibitions | One Way Ticket: Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series at The Museum of Modern Art in New York (2015), The American Struggle at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (2020), Over the Line: The Art and Life of Jacob Lawrence at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC (2001) |
| Collections | The Migration Series jointly owned by the Phillips Collection and the Museum of Modern Art; Works in the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Reynolda House Museum of American Art, and the Museum of Northwest Art |
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What You'll Learn
- Jacob Lawrence's paintings often portrayed the lives and struggles of African Americans
- He is considered one of the best-known twentieth-century African-American painters
- Lawrence's works are exhibited in museums across the US
- He was one of the first nationally recognized African-American artists
- Lawrence's work was characterized by stylistic experimentation and everyday imagery
Jacob Lawrence's paintings often portrayed the lives and struggles of African Americans
Jacob Lawrence was an American painter known for his portrayal of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. He referred to his style as "dynamic cubism", inspired by West African and Meso-American art. Lawrence's paintings often portrayed the lives and struggles of African Americans, finding wide audiences due to their abstract, colourful style and universal themes.
Lawrence's early work included depictions of everyday life in Harlem, a major series dedicated to African-American history, and biographical accounts of key figures of the African diaspora. His series of paintings include "The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture" (1937), "The Life of Frederick Douglass" (1938-40), "The Life of Harriet Tubman" (1938-39), and "Harlem" (1942). Lawrence's work during this period was characterised by his use of water-based media, crisp shapes, bright colours, dynamic patterns, and expressive postures and gestures.
In 1940-41, Lawrence completed "The Migration of the Negro" or "The Migration Series", a 60-panel set of narrative paintings depicting the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North after World War I. This series brought him national recognition and made him the first African-American artist represented by a New York gallery.
Following his struggle with depression in the late 1940s, Lawrence resumed painting with renewed enthusiasm in the 1950s and 60s, a period characterised by stylistic experimentation and everyday imagery. During this time, he produced the "Struggle: From the History of the American People" series (1954-56), which depicted historical scenes from 1775 to 1817 and included references to current events and lesser-known aspects of American history.
In the late 1960s, Lawrence returned to a more straightforward style and optimistic outlook, concentrating on the topic of "Builders" and underscoring his lifelong vision of man's labour and struggle. His work has been exhibited in major museums across the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
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He is considered one of the best-known twentieth-century African-American painters
Jacob Armstead Lawrence (September 7, 1917 – June 9, 2000) is considered one of the best-known twentieth-century African-American painters. He was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and moved to Harlem, New York City, with his mother and siblings at the age of 13. It was in Harlem that Lawrence was introduced to art through after-school classes at an arts and crafts settlement house called Utopia Children's Center. He later attended the Harlem Art Workshop, where he studied under noted African-American artist Charles Alston and met artists and writers associated with the Harlem Renaissance, including Augusta Savage and Langston Hughes.
Lawrence's work frequently portrayed scenes of Black life and history with vivid stylized realism, often using tempera or gouache on paper or cardboard. He referred to his style as "dynamic cubism," drawing inspiration from West African and Meso-American art. His compositions were inspired by everyday life in Harlem, and he used blacks and browns juxtaposed with vivid colours to bring the African-American experience to life.
Lawrence gained national recognition at the age of 23 with his 60-panel Migration Series, which depicted the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. The series was exhibited at the Downtown Gallery in New York City in 1941 and was jointly purchased by the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. Throughout his career, Lawrence created several notable series of paintings, including the Hospital Series (1950), the Hiroshima Series (1983), and the Events in the Life of Harold Washington mural (1990s).
Today, Lawrence's work is included in the permanent collections of numerous museums worldwide, including the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum. He also taught and spent 16 years as a professor at the University of Washington, which now houses the Jacob Lawrence Gallery and offers an annual Jacob Lawrence Legacy Residency.
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Lawrence's works are exhibited in museums across the US
Jacob Lawrence was an American painter known for his portrayal of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. He is considered one of the best-known twentieth-century African-American painters, known for his modernist illustrations of everyday life as well as narratives of African-American history and historical figures.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has also exhibited Lawrence's work, including the Struggle Series paintings from 1954-1956, which explored the theme of man's labour and struggle. This exhibition, titled "Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle", travelled to museums across the country.
Other notable museums that have showcased Lawrence's art include the Seattle Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center in Asheville, North Carolina, the Brooklyn Museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.
Lawrence's work has been celebrated and recognised through various exhibitions and initiatives, including the Gwendolyn Knight and Jacob Lawrence Fellowship offered by the Seattle Art Museum, honouring the couple's contribution to American art and their dedication to artistic excellence and mentorship.
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He was one of the first nationally recognized African-American artists
Jacob Armstead Lawrence (September 7, 1917 – June 9, 2000) was an American painter known for his portrayal of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. Lawrence referred to his style as "dynamic cubism", an art form inspired by West African and Meso-American art. He was one of the first nationally recognized African-American artists, gaining recognition at the young age of 23 or 24 with his 60-panel Migration Series, which depicted the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. The series was exhibited at the prestigious Downtown Gallery in New York City in 1941, making him the first African-American artist represented by a mainstream gallery in the city.
Lawrence's work often portrayed the lives and struggles of African Americans, and he is known for his modernist illustrations of everyday life in Harlem, where he grew up. He was introduced to art by his mother, who enrolled him in after-school classes at the Utopia Children's Center. He went on to study under noted African-American artist Charles Alston at the Harlem Art Workshop, where he met artists and writers associated with the Harlem Renaissance.
Lawrence's best-known work, The Migration Series, was created in 1940-1941 and consisted of 60 panels that narrated the story of the Great Migration. The series was purchased jointly by the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. His work has been exhibited in numerous museums worldwide, including the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum.
Throughout his career, Lawrence received recognition for his artistic talent and his ability to capture the African-American experience. In 1945, he was awarded a fellowship in the fine arts by the Guggenheim Foundation. He also spent 16 years as a professor at the University of Washington, passing on his knowledge and inspiring the next generation of artists. Today, Lawrence is remembered as one of the most acclaimed African-American artists of the 20th century, leaving behind a legacy of powerful and influential artwork that continues to resonate with audiences.
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Lawrence's work was characterized by stylistic experimentation and everyday imagery
Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) was an American painter known for his portrayal of African-American historical subjects and contemporary life. He is considered one of the most important artists of the 20th century, renowned for his modernist depictions of everyday life and epic narratives of African-American history.
Lawrence referred to his style as "dynamic cubism", inspired by West African and Meso-American art. He found inspiration in everyday life in Harlem, using blacks and browns juxtaposed with vivid colours to bring the African-American experience to life. During the 1950s and 1960s, his work was characterised by stylistic experimentation and everyday imagery. This period saw Lawrence explore a range of styles and subjects, reflecting his interest in the lives of those around him.
Lawrence's early work included general depictions of everyday life in Harlem, such as his 60-panel Migration Series, which depicted the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. This series brought him national recognition at the young age of 23. He also created a series of paintings on the lives of Harriet Tubman (1938-39) and Frederick Douglass (1939-40), as well as a series of 41 paintings of the Haitian general Toussaint L'Ouverture. These early works demonstrated Lawrence's powerful and concise style, capturing the vibrancy and pathos of Harlem and its occupants.
In the late 1960s, Lawrence's style shifted towards a more straightforward approach with an optimistic outlook. During this time, he focused thematically on the topic of Builders, exploring man's labour and struggle. This subject matter reflected Lawrence's interest in the everyday experiences and struggles of people, a theme that continued to feature in his work throughout his career.
Lawrence's work has been exhibited in major museums across the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Brooklyn Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum, among others. His paintings are included in the permanent collections of many museums, ensuring his legacy as one of the greatest American artists of the 20th century.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear how many paintings Jacob Lawrence painted in his lifetime. However, he is considered one of the best-known twentieth-century African-American painters, enjoying a successful career for over fifty years.
One of Lawrence's most famous works is the Migration Series, a 60-panel series depicting the Great Migration of African Americans. The series was exhibited at Edith Halpert's Downtown Gallery in 1941, bringing Lawrence national acclaim at the age of 23.
Lawrence referred to his style as "dynamic cubism", inspired by West African and Meso-American art. His paintings often featured abstract figures and flat primary colours, with black and brown juxtaposed with vivid colours.
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