- Lawrence, Jacob
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born Sept. 7, 1917, Atlantic City, N.J., U.S.died June 9, 2000, Seattle, Wash.U.S. painter.He moved with his family at 13 to New York City's Harlem. Art classes sponsored by the Works Progress Administration in 1932 developed his talent. His works portray scenes of African American life and history with vivid, stylized realism. Gouache and tempera were Lawrence's characteristic media. His use of sombre browns and black for shadows and outlines in an otherwise vibrant palette lent his work a distinctive overtone. His best-known works are his series on historical and social themes, such as Life in Harlem (1942) and War (1947). His later works include a powerful series on the struggles of desegregation. From 1971 he taught at the University of Washington.
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▪ 2000American painter (b. Sept. 7, 1917, Atlantic City, N.J.—d. June 9, 2000, Seattle, Wash.), portrayed scenes of African American life and history with vivid, stylized realism. At the age of 13 Lawrence moved with his family to the Harlem section of New York City. At free art classes offered by the Utopia Children's Center, he showed a talent for creating lively, decorative masks, a motif that would later figure strongly in his narrative painting. At the Harlem Art Workshop in 1932, he studied under artist Charles H. Alston, who became his mentor. Gouache and tempera were Lawrence's characteristic mediums. His use of sombre browns and black for shadows and outlines in an otherwise vibrant palette lent his work a distinctive overtone. His best-known works were his series on historical or social themes, including the landmark 60-painting epic Migration of the Negro (1941), Life in Harlem (1942), and War (1947). In 1964, while living in Nigeria, Lawrence painted scenes of local life. His later works included a powerful series on the struggles of African Americans during the era of desegregation. From 1971 to 1986 he was a professor of art at the University of Washington at Seattle. Lawrence was awarded the U.S. National Medal of the Arts in 1990.* * *
▪ American painterborn September 7, 1917, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.died June 9, 2000, Seattle, WashingtonAmerican painter whose works portray scenes of black life and history with vivid, stylized realism.At age 13 Lawrence moved with his family to the Harlem section of New York City. At free art classes he showed a talent for creating lively, decorative masks, a motif that would later figure strongly in his narrative painting. At the Harlem Art Workshop (sponsored by the Works Progress Administration) in 1932 he studied under Charles H. Alston.Gouache and tempera were Lawrence's characteristic media. His use of sombre browns and black for shadows and outlines in an otherwise vibrant palette lent his work a distinctive overtone. His best-known works are his series on historical or social themes, including …And the Migrants Kept Coming (1940), Life in Harlem (1942), and War (1947). In 1964 he visited Nigeria, where he painted scenes of local life. His later works include a powerful series on the struggles of desegregation. Lawrence taught at various schools and colleges and became a professor of art at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1971; he retired in 1986.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
