Play

Paving the way for the generations of black artists who would follow, Lawrence was the first African-American artist to be represented by a major commercial gallery in the nation.  Without question, he was the most important artist in the City of Seattle. This print is based on the fourth image from The Life of Harriet Tubman series (1940). Lawrence states, On a hot summer day about 1820, a group of slave children were tumbling in the sandy soil in the state of Maryland – and among them was Harriett Tubman.

It was at the Harlem Art Center that I was given materials and instruction in handling the plastic elements of line, texture, color, space, and value.  My content consisted of scenes from the Harlem community: Street orators, bars, churches, dance halls, vaudeville, people at work and play, and the interiors of tenements. –Artist statement