War Series: The Letter

Jacob Lawrence made "War Series: The Letter" with tempera on board. What strikes me first is how the palette is limited to browns, blacks and creams, creating a sense of enclosure and quietness. The paint application is also interesting; it's flat and matte, but it also has texture. You can see Lawrence's hand, the way he built up layers to create form and depth. Look at the bowed figure, with the hands firmly planted on the desk, as if holding herself up. The surface is mostly opaque, but there are hints of underpainting which come through. In terms of mood, I can't help but think of the paintings of Edward Hopper, who was a master of capturing loneliness. But Lawrence brings a very different cultural and historical perspective, a voice which speaks to a different experience of American life. In the end, the painting invites us into the quiet space of reflection, the moment just before action.