Before we jump into Jacob Lawrence, how do you feel about the long-form mini biographies?
Too long? Too condensed?
This one's a bit shorter and more career focused, better or worse?
Jacob Lawrence was born in 1917 in Atlantic City New Jersey to parents who had moved North from the rural South.
After his parent's divorce he was put into foster care in 1924, but he would meet her again at 13 in Harlem upon moving to New York.
His mother enrolled him in after school art programs. This was meant to occupy his time, but would grow into something much more.
He would learn under many prominent artists in the Harlem Renaissance including Augusta Savage.
His work, lively portrayals of historical narratives and events as well as contemporary glimpses into black urban life and culture. In both, he was deeply interested in the stories and lives of the black diaspora.
His unique approach garnered him much praise and success. His teacher, Charles Alston says of his work:
"Having thus far miraculously escaped the imprint of academic ideas and current vogues in art,... he has followed a course of development dictated by his own inner motivations... Working in the very limited medium of flat tempera he achieved a richness and brilliance of color harmonies both remarkable and exciting... Lawrence symbolizes more than anyone I know, the vitality, the seriousness and promise of a new and socially conscious generation of Negro artists."
In 1941, Jacob married fellow student of Savage and artist Gwendolyn Knight. They worked together and she would often assist him, gessoing panels and contributing captions.
In 1943, Jacob was drafted into the Coast Guard during World War II. He painted and sketched while he served, but sadly, all 48 of the pieces he produced documenting the war and his experience, are lost.
o prolific was Jacob, that many of his works are actually lost. Or at least partially. As he did works in series.
But, just in the last few years (2017, 2020, and 2021 respectively) some panels have actually been recovered.
Jacob also illustrated several children's books, including Harriet and the Promised Land in 1968 and 18 pieces for a collection of Aesop's Fables in 1970, full published with all 23 in 1998.
He dabbled in teaching. First at Black Mountain College, then The New School for Social Research, Pratt Institute and the Skrowhegan School, by 1970 he was teaching at the University of Washington and was a professor of art there from 1971 to 1986.
He took many commissions during this time, and of course never neglected his personal works. One of his most extraordinary works was in 1980 when he completed a 40 foot long mural dedicated to academic endeavor, made of porcelain and steel called Exploration.
In his later years, Jacob and his wife, created the Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation for the Creation, Presentation and Study of American Art. With particular interest in promoting and emphasizing the works of black artists. You can use it right now, and search the archives.
After a lifetime and hundreds of works under his belt, Jacob Lawrence continued to paint until his last days on earth. He died in the year 2000 from lung cancer at the age of 82.
We really only scratched the surface of Jacob's work, both in terms of detail and in quantity. The body of work he created in his life is staggering. His work was both simple and complex, and never shied from the political while lacking in any lofty pretentiousness. It must be seen to be appreciated.
If you would like to see his work, and learn about his life:
JACOB LAWRENCE, HIROSHIMA SERIES
Over the Line: The Art and Life of Jacob Lawrence
