The energy, vitality and camaraderie of Harlem haircutters and clients radiates from the kinetic, angular forms and high-wattage colors in Jacob Lawrence’s “Barber Shop, 1946.” One of the first nationally recognized African-American artists, Lawrence (1917 – 2000) referred to his style as “dynamic cubism.” Growing up in Harlem during the Depression, he was profoundly influenced by his surroundings, especially the bright colors African-American families used to enliven their tenement homes. Lawrence's paintings chronicle the African-American experience and demonstrate his lifelong concern for human freedom and dignity.

© Art.com