This work is by Jacob Lawrence, an influential American Painter. It explores the human condition through an African-American perspective with themes of social justice. This work is just one example of Lawerence's ability to question aesthetics and inspire social dialogue. He made many impactful works during the Harlem Renaissance including the Migration series depicting the struggle of many African Americans migrating from the rural south to the north for better opportunity. When Josef and Anni Albers, educators from the Bauhaus, fled to America, they began running and teaching the arts school at Black Mountain College in North Carolina. Here they carried on the ideals and teaching styles of the bauhaus. This included the multidisciplinary approach to art practice that merged fine art with design and function. They recruited Lawrence to teach a summer course at the college in 1946. Lawrence spoke about the impact of the bauhaus ideals and Josef Albers on his teaching style and life as an artist after his time at Black Mountain College. He taught at different schools around the country for the rest of his life and carried these bauhaus ideals through modern Art education around America.
His identity and role as a famous African-American artist allowed Lawrence to bring a new perspective to the bauhaus teachings, and make sure they served all groups they came into contact with. By learning the teachings of the bauhaus and continuing them through the rest of his career, Lawrence increase accessibility to this new art education.
