Travel Monday: Celebrating Harlem with Jacob Lawrence

Introducing the cultural center of the Big Apple

As the name suggests, the Harlem Renaissance pays homage to the New York City Neighborhood, Harlem. During the Great Migration, Harlem became the cultural center of the African American community. With the eruption of jazz, fashion, art, literature, and philosophy, Harlem became the place to be.

It is during this time in the early 1900s that Harlem's African American culture began to proliferate into popularity. Primarily, jazz marked an introduction to entertainment that saw no color! This is one of the first instances that both black and white artists and audience members truly shared a joint passion without any bias.

During the 1920s to 1940s, it truly was the pinnacle of freedom and unfiltered joy from the previous systematic oppression that the African American community once faced in the South. However, happiness comes with hard work and labor; this belief is highlighted in Lawrence’s work. Check out our story for more Lawrence goodness!

And that's art.

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Jacob Lawrence's Artwork Citations (In Order of Appearance)

Pool Parlor, Jacob Lawrence, 1942, Watercolor and Gouache on Paper, 79.1 x 58.1 cm, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Shoemaker, Jacob Lawrence, 1945, Watercolor and Gouache on Paper, 57.8 x 78.7 cm, Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Apartment, Jacob Lawrence, 1943

The Migration of the Negro, Panel 1, Jacob Lawrence, 1941, Casein Tempera on Hardboard, 30.5 x 45.7 cm, The Phillips Collection

The Library, Jacob Lawrence, 1960, Tempera on Fiberboard, 60.9 x 75.8 cm, Smithsonian American Art Museum

Dreams No. 2, Jacob Lawrence, 1965, Tempera on Fiberboard, 90.8 x 61.0 cm, Smithsonian American Art Museum