Library, 1969

The artist's delight in reading is vibrantly illustrated in Jacob Lawrence’s “Library, 1969.” Known for the bright colors and fragmented style of his images of African-American life, Lawrence (1917 – 2000) taught himself about black history by visiting libraries and museums. He even researched many of his works by reading novels and historical books. This lively image may depict Harlem’s 135th Street Library, home of the county’s first significant collection of African-American publications, and the figure in front may be a self-portrait of the young Lawrence.

This high-quality art print is expertly produced to capture the vivid color and exceptional detail of the original.