The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, No. 22: Settling down at St. Marc, he took possession of two important posts, 1938. Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000). Tempera on paper; 19 x 11 1/2 in. Courtesy Amistad Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans
  • The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, No. 22: Settling down at St. Marc, he took possession of two important posts, 1938. Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000). Tempera on paper; 19 x 11 1/2 in. Courtesy Amistad Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans
  • The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, No. 22: Settling down at St. Marc, he took possession of two important posts, 1938. Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000). Tempera on paper; 19 x 11 1/2 in. Courtesy Amistad Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans
  • The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, No. 6: The birth of Toussaint L’Ouverture, May 20, 1743. Both of Toussaint’s parents were slaves, 1938. Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000). Tempera on paper; 19 x 11 1/2 in. Courtesy Amistad Research Center, Tulane Uni
  • The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, No. 20: General Toussaint L’Ouverture, Statesman and military genius, esteemed by the Spaniards, feared by the English, dreaded by the French, hated by the planters, and reverenced by the Blacks, 1938. Jacob Lawrence (Am
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Jacob Lawrence: The Toussaint L’Ouverture Series

Sat, 10/11/2014 to Sun, 01/04/2015
James and Hannah Bartlett Gallery

Influenced by the Harlem Renaissance, Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000) believed that art should be a quest for both personal and communal identity, a philosophy he advocated throughout his long and distinguished career. On several occasions, he developed multi-paneled series of works exploring heroic stories and themes. His first of these monumental efforts, The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, created in 1936–38, is showcased in this exhibition. Consisting of 41 images—for which Lawrence also composed captions—the series brings to life L’Ouverture’s feats in emancipating Haiti from European rule, thereby establishing the first black republic in the Western Hemisphere.

Courtesy of the Amistad Research Center, New Orleans, LA.

The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, No. 22: Settling down at St. Marc, he took possession of two important posts, 1938. Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000). Tempera on paper; 19 x 11 1/2 in. Courtesy Amistad Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans
The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, No. 6: The birth of Toussaint L’Ouverture, May 20, 1743. Both of Toussaint’s parents were slaves, 1938. Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917–2000). Tempera on paper; 19 x 11 1/2 in. Courtesy Amistad Research Center, Tulane Uni
The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, No. 20: General Toussaint L’Ouverture, Statesman and military genius, esteemed by the Spaniards, feared by the English, dreaded by the French, hated by the planters, and reverenced by the Blacks, 1938. Jacob Lawrence (Am