Lawrence, Jacob
Introduction
Jacob Lawrence was one of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. His extraordinary talent transcended color barriers while simultaneously affirming his identity and celebrating the vitality of his community in Harlem. Renowned for creating dynamic, emotionally resonant scenes, Lawrence left an indelible mark on American art through his modern depictions of African American history and life.
Early Life
After moving from Philadelphia at age 13, Jacob Lawrence spent his teenage years in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. He fell in love with art from an early age and spent time in the studios of Charles Alston and Augusta Savage, both significant figures in the cultural movement inspired by the writings of Alain Locke.
During these formative years, Lawrence studied at the Schomburg Collection at the 135th Street Library, which housed books on art and African culture. He also frequently visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. A dedicated student of art history, Lawrence often referred to his style as “dynamic cubism,” drawing inspiration from both Social Realism and Cubism.
Although his mother had hoped Lawrence would become a postal worker, Lawrence was captivated by the cultural energy of the late Harlem Renaissance and had other ambitions. After leaving high school, he was featured in his first Alston Studio art show in 1935 at just 18 years old. As one of the first major 20th-century American artists to be trained within Harlem’s artistic community, his work quickly drew the attention of critics and scholars.
Career
As Lawrence developed his own artistic language, he embraced a modernist approach that blended African and Western art influences in pursuit of a distinctly African American visual style.
Encouraged by historian Charles Seifert, Lawrence continued exploring African American history through his work. His depictions of slavery, the Jim Crow South and the Great Migration were received with admiration and studied for their narrative power, formal innovation and emotional depth.
Beyond rendering the oppression many African Americans faced, Lawrence also celebrated Black achievement and resilience through colorful, deeply expressive compositions. His work drew from a wide range of sources, including African masks, Cubism, Social Realism and the geometric innovations of modern European painting. These influences can be seen in works such as Makeup.
Legacy
Lawrence often felt the emotional and psychological burden of being regarded as a symbolic voice for Black America. Despite struggles with mental health, he continued to produce an extraordinary body of work that profoundly shaped American art and culture.
Lawrence gained national recognition through groundbreaking series such as the 41-panel The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, begun in 1937, and the 60-panel The Migration of the Negro, completed in 1941. In 1941, he became the first Black artist whose work entered the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. He also received commissions from the U.S. government during the New Deal era and exhibited widely throughout his lifetime.
Today, Lawrence’s works are held in major museum collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.
Quick Facts
|
Continue Your ExplorationExplore works by Jacob Lawrence and other important American artists through M.S. Rau’s curated collection of museum-quality fine art spanning the defining movements and voices of the 20th century. |
Lawrence, Jacob
Introduction
Jacob Lawrence was one of the most influential American artists of the 20th century. His extraordinary talent transcended color barriers while simultaneously affirming his identity and celebrating the vitality of his community in Harlem. Renowned for creating dynamic, emotionally resonant scenes, Lawrence left an indelible mark on American art through his modern depictions of African American history and life.
Early Life
After moving from Philadelphia at age 13, Jacob Lawrence spent his teenage years in Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. He fell in love with art from an early age and spent time in the studios of Charles Alston and Augusta Savage, both significant figures in the cultural movement inspired by the writings of Alain Locke.
During these formative years, Lawrence studied at the Schomburg Collection at the 135th Street Library, which housed books on art and African culture. He also frequently visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. A dedicated student of art history, Lawrence often referred to his style as “dynamic cubism,” drawing inspiration from both Social Realism and Cubism.
Although his mother had hoped Lawrence would become a postal worker, Lawrence was captivated by the cultural energy of the late Harlem Renaissance and had other ambitions. After leaving high school, he was featured in his first Alston Studio art show in 1935 at just 18 years old. As one of the first major 20th-century American artists to be trained within Harlem’s artistic community, his work quickly drew the attention of critics and scholars.
Career
As Lawrence developed his own artistic language, he embraced a modernist approach that blended African and Western art influences in pursuit of a distinctly African American visual style.
Encouraged by historian Charles Seifert, Lawrence continued exploring African American history through his work. His depictions of slavery, the Jim Crow South and the Great Migration were received with admiration and studied for their narrative power, formal innovation and emotional depth.
Beyond rendering the oppression many African Americans faced, Lawrence also celebrated Black achievement and resilience through colorful, deeply expressive compositions. His work drew from a wide range of sources, including African masks, Cubism, Social Realism and the geometric innovations of modern European painting. These influences can be seen in works such as Makeup.
Legacy
Lawrence often felt the emotional and psychological burden of being regarded as a symbolic voice for Black America. Despite struggles with mental health, he continued to produce an extraordinary body of work that profoundly shaped American art and culture.
Lawrence gained national recognition through groundbreaking series such as the 41-panel The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, begun in 1937, and the 60-panel The Migration of the Negro, completed in 1941. In 1941, he became the first Black artist whose work entered the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. He also received commissions from the U.S. government during the New Deal era and exhibited widely throughout his lifetime.
Today, Lawrence’s works are held in major museum collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.
Quick Facts
|
Continue Your ExplorationExplore works by Jacob Lawrence and other important American artists through M.S. Rau’s curated collection of museum-quality fine art spanning the defining movements and voices of the 20th century. |
