A Traumatic Past Breeds a Brighter Future

We chose to include Brownstones by Jacob Lawrence and Family by Louis Delsarte in our exhibition because we felt that these works both illustrate the transformation in Black society. These pieces contrast with the rest of the exhibit in how they portray the Black experience; their vibrancy and variety of color eludes to a more carefree life compared to the somber tones of the other works. In Brownstones we noticed a more joyous theme conveyed by Lawrence through his depiction of black people conversing within their own community and with children dancing. The other work, Family, is a vivid image of a black family dynamic, illustrating a group of relatives as they sit and enjoy each other’s company while sharing a meal. The movement of the subjects in both Lawrence and Delsarte’s compositions are free flowing and playful, making them incongruent to the more reserved activities of the subjects in the other works. These pieces are also arguably more social than the others in this exhibit, and display what we interpret as deliberate verbal communication. These distinct elemental differences together demonstrate a beautiful metamorphosis. They show the transition from trauma to triumph in the Black experience through the use of colors, socialization or lack thereof, and movement.