Quotes by Jacob Lawrence

I would describe my work as expressionist. The expressionist point of view is stressing your own feelings about something.

Our homes were very decorative, full of pattern, like inexpensive throw rugs. It must have had some influence, all this color and everything. Because we were so poor the people used this as a means of brightening their life. I used to do bright patterns after these throw rugs; I got ideas from them, the arabesques, the movement and so on.

When the subject is strong, simplicity is the only way to treat it.