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Jacob Lawrence

Charcoal portrait of the African American artist Jacob Lawrence. Lawrence wears a suit jacket and checked shirt with a tie; he has a mustache and his mouth opens in a half smile. The words "Jake Lawrence" are written in the bottom left.

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  • Charcoal portrait of the African American artist Jacob Lawrence. Lawrence wears a suit jacket and checked shirt with a tie; he has a mustache and his mouth opens in a half smile. The words "Jake Lawrence" are written in the bottom left.

Date:

1957

Artist:

Joseph Delaney
American, 1904-1991

About this artwork

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Joseph Delaney received relatively little recognition for his art during his lifetime; he was eclipsed in part by the reputation of his more flamboyant brother, Beaufort. Like many African American artists of his generation, he was often overlooked for exhibitions in major museums and galleries. Sketching forceful portraits such as this one of fellow artist Jacob Lawrence, Delaney showed his work outdoors in New York’s Washington Square for almost 50 years. He returned to Knoxville in 1986, holding the position of artist-in-residence at the University of Tennessee until his death in 1991.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Prints and Drawings

Artist

Joseph Delaney

Title

Jacob Lawrence

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1957

Medium

Various charcoals on tan wove paper

Dimensions

40.6 × 30.9 cm (16 × 12 3/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Clarence S. Wilson, Jr. and Helena Chapellín Wilson

Reference Number

1992.186

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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