Jacob Lawrence Carpenters 1997 Lithograph Signed Edition of 300

Artist: Jacob Lawrence
Title: Carpenters
Medium: Offset Lithograph in Colors on B.F.K. Rives Paper
Edition: 130/300 + 10 AP + 10 HC
Publisher: Published by Himan Brown, New York
Printer: Printed by George C. Miller & Sons, New York
Size: 19.125" x 23.125", currently unframed
Year: 1997
Inscription: Signed, dated, titled, and numbered on lower front edge
Documentation: Includes Gallery Certificate of Authenticity
Provenance: Unbroken Record of Provenance Available by Request

Exhibition History: 
- Maryland-National Capital Park Commission, Riverdale, "M-NCPPC Black History Program", January 24-March 31, 2000;
- City Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri, (and elsewhere), "Tools as Art: The Hechinger Collection", July 1, 2001-December 30, 2008;
- Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, Florida (and elsewhere), "ReTooled: Highlights from the Hechinger Collection", November 10, 2014-October 26, 2020.

Literature:
- P. Hamill, Tools as Art: The Hechinger Collection, New York, 1995, p. 47, illustrated in colors;
- P. Nesbett, Jacob Lawrence: The Complete Prints (1963-2000), A Catalogue Raisonne, Seattle, 2001, p. 35, no. L77-2, illustra

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000) is celebrated for his dynamic, graphic style and distinct color palette, producing works that engage with the African American experience, social justice, and the human condition. In "Carpenters", Lawrence turns his attention to craftsmen, specifically cabinet makers, transforming tools and construction into subjects of aesthetic and symbolic consideration. Through expressive lines, bold colors, and active imagery, he conveys both the physicality of labor and the inherent beauty of tools as extensions of human skill. Lawrence described tools as "beautiful instruments…so perfect, so ideal…so utilitarian, so aesthetic", highlighting their dual function as practical objects and sources of visual inspiration.

"Carpenters" exemplifies Lawrence's focus in the 1970s on work, creation, and the positive symbolism of labor, blending narrative, abstraction, and color in a lithograph that communicates both story and form. The work captures the rhythm of manual craft, presenting a visual meditation on creation and the human engagement with material objects.

This lithograph measures 19-1/8 × 23-1/8 inches and is part of an edition of 130/300, with an additional 10 artist's proofs and 10 hors commerce. It was published by Himan Brown in New York and printed by George C. Miller & Sons, New York. The piece is signed, dated, titled, and numbered on the lower front edge and includes a gallery certificate of authenticity. Its exhibition history includes the Maryland-National Capital Park Commission, Riverdale ("M-NCPPC Black History Program", 2000); City Museum, Saint Louis, Missouri, and traveling venues ("Tools as Art: The Hechinger Collection", 2001–2008); and Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, Florida, and traveling venues ("ReTooled: Highlights from the Hechinger Collection", 2014–2020). Literature referencing the work includes P. Hamill, Tools as Art: The Hechinger Collection (1995, p. 47) and P. Nesbett, Jacob Lawrence: The Complete Prints (1963–2000), A Catalogue Raisonné (2001, p. 35, no. L77-2, illustrated). Provenance is available upon request.

About Jacob Lawrence

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000) was a seminal 20th-century American painter whose work reshaped the narrative of African American history and culture in visual art. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and raised in Harlem, New York, Lawrence emerged during the Harlem Renaissance era as a vital voice in modern American art. His distinctive style combined vivid, flat planes of color with dynamic compositions, synthesizing elements of Cubism and social realism to create works that were at once modernist and deeply rooted in narrative storytelling. Over the course of his career, Lawrence produced numerous series and standalone works exploring themes of labor, community, and the resilience of African Americans. His subjects included both historical figures and everyday life, emphasizing the intersection of personal and collective experience.

A trailblazer in both technique and subject matter, Lawrence's work is characterized by its bold color palette, rhythmic composition, and socially conscious narratives. He taught at institutions including the University of Washington and the Pratt Institute, influencing generations of artists with his commitment to socially engaged art. Lawrence received numerous awards, including a National Book Award for illustration and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, reflecting his significant contributions to American cultural heritage.

Today, Jacob Lawrence's paintings are held in the permanent collections of major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. His work remains a cornerstone of American art history, celebrated for its narrative power, formal innovation, and profound reflection on the African American experience.