Jacob Lawrence Figurative 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 Figurative 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 Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache

1950s "Pink Towel 2" Mid Century Nude Gouache Painting, c. 1950

$500

H 18 in W 15 in

1950s "Pink Towel 2" Mid Century Nude Gouache Painting

Located in Arp, TX

From the estate of Jerry Opper & Ruth Friedman Opper Yellow c. 1950's Gouache on Paper 15" x 18", Unframed *Custom framing available for additional charge. Please expect framing time between 3-5 weeks. 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...

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Mid-20th Century American Modern Jacob Lawrence Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Antonio PetruccelliHouse Beautiful Cover Proposal. American Scene Social Realism Industrial WPA, c. 1930s

$9,500

H 20 in W 22 in

House Beautiful Cover Proposal. American Scene Social Realism Industrial WPA

By Antonio Petruccelli

Located in New York, NY

House Beautiful Cover Proposal. American Scene Social Realism Industrial WPA Antonio Petruccelli (1907 – 1994) Mixing Mortar 12 1/2 X 14 3/4 inche...

Category

1930s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

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 Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache, Oil Pastel

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 Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

Donald Stacy1950s "Pink Floor" Mid Century Female Nude Figurative Painting, c. 1950s

$325Sale Price|65% Off

H 17.25 in W 17.25 in

1950s "Pink Floor" Mid Century Female Nude Figurative Painting

By Donald Stacy

Located in Arp, TX

Donald Stacy "Pink Floor" c.1950s Gouache paint on paper 17.25" x 17.25" unframed Signed in pencil lower right Came from artist's estate *Custom framing av...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Jacob Lawrence Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Agnes Hart"Union Square" NYC American Scene Social Realism Modernism WPA Mid-20th Century, 1940

$18,000

H 26 in W 33 in

"Union Square" NYC American Scene Social Realism Modernism WPA Mid-20th Century

By Agnes Hart

Located in New York, NY

"Union Square" NYC American Scene Social Realism Modernism WPA Mid-20th Century Agnes Hart (American, 1912-1979) "Union Square, New York City" Sight: 14 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches Gouache...

Category

1940s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Figurative 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 Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

Antonio PetruccelliOriginal Painting Steel Workers Fabric Design Industrial Deco American Modernism, 1927

$14,000

H 28 in W 22 in

Original Painting Steel Workers Fabric Design Industrial Deco American Modernism

By Antonio Petruccelli

Located in New York, NY

Original Painting Steel Workers Fabric Design Industrial Deco American Modernism Antonio Petruccelli (1907 - 1994) Steel Workers Textile design 19 1/4 X ...

Category

1930s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

Antonio PetruccelliOriginal Painting. New Yorker Cover Proposal Baseball c. 1939 Modern Cubist Deco, c. 1939

$14,000

H 19 in W 15 in

Original Painting. New Yorker Cover Proposal Baseball c. 1939 Modern Cubist Deco

By Antonio Petruccelli

Located in New York, NY

Original Painting. New Yorker Cover Proposal Baseball c. 1939 Modern Cubist Deco Antonio Petruccelli (1907 - 1994) Play Ball New Yorker cover proposal, c. 1939 12 x 8 inches (sight) Framed 18 1/2 X 14 3/4 inches Gouache on board Estate sticker verso BIOGRAPHY: Antonio Petruccelli (1907-1994) began his career as a textile designer. He became a freelance illustrator in 1932 after winning several House Beautiful cover illustration contests. In addition to 24 Fortune magazine covers, four New Yorker covers, several for House Beautiful, Collier’s, and other magazines he did numerous illustrations for Life magazine from the 1930s – 60s. ‘Tony was Mr. Versatility for Fortune. He could do anything, from charts and diagrams to maps, illustrations, covers, and caricatures,’ said Francis Brennan, the former art director for Fortune. Over the course of his career, Antonio won several important design awards, designing a U.S. Postage Stamp Commemorating the Steel Industry and designing the Bicentennial Medal...

Category

1930s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Board

Original 70's Hand Painted Textile Design Gouache Pink & Black Color on Paper, Unknown

$1,004

H 34.65 in W 18.9 in D 0.12 in

Original 70's Hand Painted Textile Design Gouache Pink & Black Color on Paper

Located in ALCOY/ALCOI, ES

Flowers and pixel design. Sealed on the back with design studio name and number 268 We offer a small number of these original illustration designs by this design studio based in Alc...

Category

1970s Modern Jacob Lawrence Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Harry GottliebGlassblowers WPA American Scene Mid- 20th Century Modern Figurative Workers 1932, 1932

$4,400

H 21 in W 26 in D 2 in

Glassblowers WPA American Scene Mid- 20th Century Modern Figurative Workers 1932

By Harry Gottlieb

Located in New York, NY

Glassblowers WPA American Scene Mid- 20th Century Modern Figurative Workers. Dated and signed "32 Harry Gottlieb" lower right. Sight: 13 1/8" H x 18 1/4" W. Harry Gottlieb, painter, screenprinter, educator, and lithographer, was born in Bucharest, Rumania. He emigrated to America in 1907, and his family settled in Minneapolis. From 1915 to 1917, Gottlieb attended the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. After a short stint as an illustrator for the U.S. Navy, Gottlieb moved to New York City; he became a scenic and costume designer for Eugene O"Neill's Provincetown Theater Group. He also studied at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts and the National Academy of Design. He was one of America's first Social Realist painters, influenced by that Robert Henri-led movement in New York City where Gottlieb settled in 1918. He was also a pioneer in screen printing, which he learned while working for the WPA. He married Eugenie Gershoy, and the couple joined the artist colony at Woodstock, New York. He lectured widely on art education. In 1923, Gottlieb settled in Woodstock, New York and in 1931, spent a a year abroad studying under a Guggenheim Fellowship. In 1935, he joined the Federal Art Project...

Category

1930s American Modern Jacob Lawrence Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, 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 Figurative Paintings

Materials

Tempera, Board

Jacob Lawrence figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Jacob Lawrence figurative 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 figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 22 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Lorraine Fox, Donald Roy Purdy, and Bernie Fuchs. Jacob Lawrence figurative 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.

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Questions About Jacob Lawrence Figurative 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.