Jacob Lawrence

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Pages: 6

Within the last 70 years, the emergence and recognition of black artwork has begun to create space for black artists in the fine arts scene in America. While African and black artists have been creating art for over 200 years, the publication and acceptance of black artwork in fine arts spaces only began emerging in the mid-1900s. Black artists began fighting for their spot on the arts scene as the civil rights movement took way. As black artists began establishing themselves as relevant in the art world, many historically noted artists used history and experiences to contextualize their artwork. They also utilized style and composition to create space for these historical works. I argue that the conceptualization of history and the honoring …show more content…
Lawrence uses water-based mediums such as acrylic and gouache paint to depict scenes of black life, specifically inspired by street scenes, many of his paintings hold movement and describe the daily experience of black people. Lawrence was also heavily inspired by tools, depicting external tools, as well as emphasizing hands and feet to express this intentionality. In the documentary titled The Glory of Expression about Lawrence, he describes his paintings as “the healthiest part of his personality, the part that is in close touch both with the inner depth of his own feelings and with the outer world.” In this documentary, he is also described as a “humanist with a moral vision.” Lawrence’s work gives an accurate depiction of the dark aspects of human history and black experience, while simultaneously evoking pride and honoring the experience of this community. One artwork that highlights Lawrence’s influence and historical relevance is Confrontation at the Bridge, 1975. This work depicts an important moment in the civil rights movement in 1965 when unarmed black protesters marched from Selma to Montgomery to advocate for black voting