Painter Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) was known for his portrayal of the African-American experience, using blacks and browns juxtaposed with vivid colors. Lawrence referred to his style as "dynamic cubism," though by his own account the primary influence was not so much French art as the shapes and colors of Harlem. Lawrence also taught, and spent 15 years as a professor at the University of Washington.

In this image Lawrence sits at home, with artwork related to his "Builders" series hanging on the wall behind him. At the time this image was taken, a major retrospective of Lawrence's work was being shown at the Seattle Art Museum.

Caption information source: The Seattle Times, November 17, 1974, page 104
Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.