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Artwork Page for The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture

Details / Information for The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture

The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture

1986
Part of a set, view all set records
(American, 1917–2000)
America
15 silkscreen prints on paper
Each sheet: 81.6 x 55.9 cm (32 1/8 x 22 in.)
Gift of Agnes Gund in honor of Gordon Gund 2019.79
© The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Catalogue raisonné: Nesbett and Hills L86-2-L97-5
Location: not on view
Copyright
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Did You Know?

Jacob Lawrence reinterpreted a series of paintings to make these prints, changing their forms, composition, colors, and scale—a process that he described as “another creative step.”

Description

These prints reinterpret a series of paintings that African American artist Jacob Lawrence made about Toussaint L’Ouverture, a Haitian revolutionary. Born into slavery, L’Ouverture led an uprising that freed Haiti from European rule. After hearing the story as a young man and being struck that it had been omitted from his formal education, Lawrence began to paint episodes from L’Ouverture’s biography, using bright colors and simple forms to evoke its drama.
Fifteen prints dominated by reds, greens, and greys of simple forms that depict scenes often featuring Toussaint L’Ouverture, a man with a dark skin tone. These scenes are drawn from the biography of L’Ouverture and many of the prints depict scenes of revolution.

The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture

1986

Jacob Lawrence, Lou Stovall Workshop, Inc., Amistad Research Center

(American, 1917–2000)
America

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