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Introduction to the Icons

    Both Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence have extensive bodies of work that showcase Black history intertwined with art.

    Familiarity with their work is a foundational part of understanding African American art history.

    Romare Bearden

    Out Chorus by Romare Bearden, 1980.

    Known for creating colorful collages, his works include paintings, prints, and photographs.

    Jacob Lawrence

    Confrontation at the Bridge from the series Not Songs of Loyalty Alone: The Struggle for Personal Freedom by Jacob Lawrence, 1975.

    Abstract figures and flat primary colors are the hallmarks of Lawrence’s style.