Jacob Lawrence Paintings

American, 1917-2000

One of the first Black artists to receive national acclaim in the United States, Jacob Armstead Lawrence (1917–2000) was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, before moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then to Harlem, New York, in 1930. While enrolled in a community after-school arts program, Lawrence developed his talents as a painter, drawing praise and encouragement from artist Charles Alston, who ran the program at the time. Despite his family’s financial struggles during the Great Depression, Lawrence continued his pursuit of the arts, developing a series of multipanel realist paintings dedicated to iconic Black historical figures, including Toussaint L’Ouverture, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. In 1938, he had his first solo exhibition at the Harlem YMCA and had begun to work for the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

In 1940, Lawrence received a grant from a philanthropic organization called the Rosenwald Fund, which allowed him to begin what would become his most famous work: The Migration Series, a narrative piece comprised of casein tempera paint on 60 18-by-12-inch hardboard panels featuring captions he’d written before he began to paint. (Fellow artist and future wife Gwendolyn Knight helped with the text.) Lawrence’s series focuses on the Great Migration of Black Americans from the agricultural South to the industrial North between 1910 and 1940.

By the end of the 1940s, Lawrence had earned widespread recognition for his important work and was the most celebrated Black artist in the United States. He continued covering Black historical figures throughout his career, though he also painted social commentaries on contemporary issues, like World War II and civil rights. He taught at the Art Students League in New York and at Black Mountain College in North Carolina (upon invitation from artist Josef Albers), among other institutions.

Lawrence’s works can be found in the collections of many major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and elsewhere. His painting The Builders hangs in the White House today, as it was acquired by the White House Historical Association in 2007.

Find watercolor paintings, prints and more by Jacob Lawrence on 1stDibs.

Artist: Jacob Lawrence

Jacob Lawrence"Windows", c. 1977

$743,750

"Windows"

By Jacob Lawrence

Located in Lambertville, NJ

Jim's of Lambertville Fine Art Gallery is proud to present this work by Jacob Lawrence (1917 – 2000). Provenance: This painting is from the private collection of Gwen Lawrence, widow of Jacob Lawrence. Exhibitions: An attached photo (3rd photo) of the back of the piece shows its extensive exhibition history. Biography: Leading African-American narrative painter, Jacob Lawrence was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1917. After his father abandoned his family in 1924, Lawrence spent several years in foster homes before reuniting with his mother in 1930 in Harlem, New York. In New York, he attended art classes organized at the Harlem Art Workshop with Charles Aston and the Harlem Community Art Center with Augusta Savage. There, he met fellow young painters, Aaron Douglas, and William Johnson...

Category

1970s Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Ben ShahnBasketball Player, c. 1940

$7,500

H 12.13 in W 8 in

Basketball Player

By Ben Shahn

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Basketball Player Gouache on card stock, c. 1940 Signed by the artist in ink lower center A study for the fresco mural in the Social Security Buildin...

Category

1940s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Joseph Solman"Figure Study" Joseph Solman, Blue and Sepia, Pastel Colors Seated Study, circa 1959-60

$4,500

H 18.5 in W 14.5 in

"Figure Study" Joseph Solman, Blue and Sepia, Pastel Colors Seated Study

By Joseph Solman

Located in New York, NY

Joseph Solman Figure Study, circa 1959-60 Signed with initials lower left Gouache on Racing Form newspaper Sight 9 x 7 inches Provenance Private Collection, Montecito, California Pr...

Category

1950s Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Newsprint

Donald StacyOil Pastel and Gouache Painting, Figurative, Circa 1950s, 14x17, 1950s

$500

H 17 in W 14 in

Oil Pastel and Gouache Painting, Figurative, Circa 1950s, 14x17

By Donald Stacy

Located in Arp, TX

Donald Stacy "Mark" c.1950s Oil pastel and gouache paint on paper 14x17" unframed Unsigned Came from artist's estate Donald Stacy (1925-2011) New Jersey Studied: Newark School of ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil Pastel, Gouache

Donald Stacy1950s "Eve" American Modern MidCentury Figurative Gouache & Oil Pastel, c. 1950s

$1,200

H 17.75 in W 14.75 in

1950s "Eve" American Modern MidCentury Figurative Gouache & Oil Pastel

By Donald Stacy

Located in Arp, TX

Donald Stacy "Eve" c.1950s Gouache and oil pastel on paper 14x17" black wood frame 14.75"x17.75" Unsigned, Eve written in paint along right margin Came from artist's estate Donald S...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Oil Pastel

Arieh AllweilMiddle Eastern Men Oil Painting Austrian Israeli Modernist Tel Aviv Museum, circa 1940's

$1,200

H 24 in W 20.5 in D 2.5 in

Middle Eastern Men Oil Painting Austrian Israeli Modernist Tel Aviv Museum

By Arieh Allweil

Located in Surfside, FL

ARIEH ALLWEIL [ARIE ALWEIL] 1901-1967 Galicia 1901-1967 Safed, Israel (Ukrainian/Polish/Israeli) Pastel or Gouache on paper Hand signed lower right Dimensions: framed 20.5 X 23.5. im...

Category

20th Century Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board, Oil Pastel

William S. SchwartzPortrait of an Old Man with Cane, Important Chicago Modernist WPA Artist, c. 1940

$6,500

H 21 in W 17 in D 2 in

Portrait of an Old Man with Cane, Important Chicago Modernist WPA Artist

By William S. Schwartz

Located in Surfside, FL

William Samuel Schwartz (American, 1896-1977) "Portrait of an Old Man with Cane" c. 1940 Gouache on board, 21" x 17" Hand signed lower left A beautiful painting of an old man sitti...

Category

1940s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

Antonio PetruccelliBricklayers House Beautiful Cover Proposal American Scene Modern 1930s Workers, c. 1939

$14,000

H 20 in W 17 in

Bricklayers House Beautiful Cover Proposal American Scene Modern 1930s Workers

By Antonio Petruccelli

Located in New York, NY

Bricklayers House Beautiful Cover Proposal American Scene Modern WPA 1930s Industrial Workers Antonio Petruccelli (1907 - 1994) Brick Layers House Beautiful cover proposal, c. 1939 ...

Category

1930s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

Antonio PetruccelliOriginal Painting. New Yorker Mag Cover Proposal WPA Mid Century American Scene, 1939

$14,000

H 20 in W 16 in

Original Painting. New Yorker Mag Cover Proposal WPA Mid Century American Scene

By Antonio Petruccelli

Located in New York, NY

Original Painting. New Yorker Mag Cover Proposal WPA Mid Century American Scene Antonio Petruccelli (1907 – 1994) Perplexed Gentleman New Yorker cover proposal, c. 1939 13 1/4 X 8 ...

Category

1930s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

Pierre PruvostVenice, Pair of Large Mid 20th Century Gouaches on Paper, The Piazzas, 1960s

$1,893

H 19.69 in W 25.4 in

Venice, Pair of Large Mid 20th Century Gouaches on Paper, The Piazzas

By Pierre Pruvost

Located in Cotignac, FR

Pair of Mid Century colourful views of Venetian piazzas, watercolour and gouache on craft paper mounted on paper by Pierre Pruvost. The paintings are signed bottom right/left and tit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache, Paper

1950s "Too Much" Mid Century Nude Gouache Painting, c. 1950

$950

H 21.5 in W 19.5 in D 1 in

1950s "Too Much" Mid Century Nude Gouache Painting

Located in Arp, TX

From the estate of Jerry Opper & Ruth Friedman Opper Too Much c. 1940-1950's Gouache on Paper 15" x 18", framed wood gallery frame float mount 21.5"x19.5" From the estate of Ruth Friedmann Opper & Jerry Opper. Ruth was the daughter of Bauhaus artist, Gustav Friedmann. San Francisco Abstract Expression A free-spirited wave of creative energy swept through the San Francisco art community after World War II. Challenging accepted modes of painting, Abstract Expressionists produced highly experimental works that jolted the public out of its postwar complacency. Abstract Expressionism resulted from a broad collective impulse rather than the inspiration of a small band of New York artists. Documenting the interchanges between the East and West Coasts, she cites areas of mutual influence and shows the impact of San Francisco on the New York School, including artists such as Mark Rothko and Ad Reinhardt. San Francisco's Beat poets...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Clara DeikeHillside and Stream, early 20th century modernist Cleveland School painting, 1916

$15,000

H 22 in W 18 in

Hillside and Stream, early 20th century modernist Cleveland School painting

Located in Beachwood, OH

Clara Deike (American, 1881-1964) Hillside and Stream, 1916 Gouache on paper Signed and dated lower right 22 x 18 inches 25.5 x 21.5 inches, framed A graduate of the Cleveland Schoo...

Category

1910s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Gouache

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mini Swedish Figurative Portrait Painting - Whispers, 1950s

$863

H 11.82 in W 14.57 in

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Mini Swedish Figurative Portrait Painting - Whispers

Located in Bristol, GB

WHISPERS Mixed Media on Board Size: 30 x 37 cm (including frame) A wonderfully expressive and brilliantly executed figurative composition in mixed media (oil, watercolour gouache), painted onto board. Two women in black headscarves are the focus of the scene, with very captivating expressions. The woman on the right appears to look almost shocked, with her mouth ajar and her eyes widened. The woman on the left stares directly at us, her emotion less identifiable. The scene is intriguing, making us question what these women have heard or what has happened. Their faces have been painted with brilliant detail, capturing the shadows on their faces as well as the aged skin of the woman on the right. These two women are set against a blue-ish green backdrop, making their faces stand out even more from within their black head scarves...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board, Watercolor, Gouache

Previously Available Items

Jacob LawrenceMakeup by Jacob Lawrence, 1952

Sold

H 30 in W 34 in D 1.5 in

Makeup by Jacob Lawrence

By Jacob Lawrence

Located in New Orleans, LA

Jacob Lawrence 1917-2000 American Makeup Signed (lower right) Tempera on board Inspired by the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem, Jacob Lawrence’s mast...

Category

20th Century Post-Impressionist Jacob Lawrence Paintings

Materials

Tempera, Board

Jacob Lawrence paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Jacob Lawrence paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Jacob Lawrence in paint, board, gouache and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Post-Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Jacob Lawrence paintings, so small editions measuring 22 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Donald Roy Purdy, Charles Levier, and Lorraine Fox. Jacob Lawrence paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $743,750 and tops out at $743,750, while the average work can sell for $743,750.

Artists Similar to Jacob Lawrence

Marc Chagall

Shop All Marc Chagall Paintings

Patricia Gren Hayes

Shop All Patricia Gren Hayes Paintings

Ervin B. Nussbaum

Shop All Ervin B. Nussbaum Paintings

Nahum Tschacbasov

Shop All Nahum Tschacbasov Paintings

Donald S. Vogel

Shop All Donald S. Vogel Paintings

Seymour Chwast

Shop All Seymour Chwast Paintings

Philip Evergood

Shop All Philip Evergood Paintings

Wayne Timm

Shop All Wayne Timm Paintings

Molly E. Brubaker

Shop All Molly E. Brubaker Paintings

Questions About Jacob Lawrence Paintings

What was Jacob Lawrence known for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024
Jacob Lawrence was known for being one of the first Black artists to receive national acclaim in the United States. His narrative paintings include pieces on Black historical figures, World War II and civil rights. His most famous work — The Migration Series — focuses on the Great Migration of Black Americans from the agricultural South to the industrial North between 1910 and 1940. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Jacob Lawrence art.
What style of art is Jacob Lawrence known for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
Dynamic cubism is the style that American artist Jacob Lawrence is known for. Lawrence coined the term himself to describe the repeated patterns and vivid colors that defined his works. To produce his paintings, he largely drew inspiration from Harlem, New York. Find a selection of Jacob Lawrence on 1stDibs.
How did Jacob Lawrence use Social Realism in his artwork?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 15, 2024
In his artwork, Jacob Lawrence used Social Realism to portray the everyday lived experiences of Black Americans. His most famous work is The Migration Series, a narrative piece of 60 18-by-12-inch hardboard panels focused on the Great Migration of Black Americans from the agricultural South to the industrial North between 1910 and 1940. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Jacob Lawrence art.

More Jacob Lawrence Art

Jacob Lawrence Prints and Multiples

Jacob Lawrence Figurative Prints

Jacob Lawrence Landscape Prints

Jacob Lawrence Still-life Prints

View All Popular Paintings Searches