Jacob Lawrence and James N. Gregory: Understanding Migration Experience Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Introduction

Visual art is a silent teacher which can tell the story of a whole generation without words and make people cry without mayhem and other types of assault. Jacob Lawrence and James N. Gregory have presented a collection of different types of visual art, paintings and photos which show the history of a generation, a long period life devoted to the great migration.

A number of specific methods have created a gallery of visual arts which does not only describes the situation, it points to devastating effect of grief, pain and other feelings which can be seen via the work of the artists, colors they used, figures the painted and the angle they presented.

Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Stories

Looking at the paintings Lawrence has presented in his Migration Series, it should be mentioned that even though they have similar traits and revel the same emotions of grief and unhappiness, each of them is unique. The same colors are used to underline that the problem an artist shows is similar on all paintings.

Dark-green, yellow, black, red, grey and dark-blue colors are mostly used. This can be explained by the types of emotions these colors awake when people look at them. The author does not use shade and the lines where the colors change are strict and expressive. There are almost no faces which can be remembered (Lawrence n.p.).

The artist tried to offer his vision of the historical event. His paintings are mostly dark. Even when yellow and white colors appear, they seem to underline and deepen the dark side of the paintings. The emotional coloring is gloomy. Each painting in the series offers the viewer the information about one specific moment from the life of people in that time, but the vision is created that the whole life people was combined of those dark, gloomy and unimpressive moments which they had to experience because of immigration.

James N. Gregory’s American Exodus

James N. Gregory offers viewers another type of visual arts, photos. The works devoted to American Exodus are black-and-white. Black-and-white photos help consider the lines which show emotions and face expressions. Moreover, even though there are no colors on the photos, a viewer can see the specifics of the wretchedness and grey life people had to lead. This makes a viewer understand that migration was a very negative experience, but they had to sustain and they did it.

Looking on the photos, it can be said that every detail is seen, even though many photos are made from distant angles. Sometimes even shades hint a viewer about hard times and the problems people have. Looking at these photos, there is no need to read about migration in America, everything can be understood from the pictures which show either children who cry or the places they have to live in (Gregory n.p.).

Conclusion

Thus it may be concluded that looking at a painting or a photo, a viewer can understand the artist’s feelings and the theme via the colors, shapes, shades, perspectives, etc. Jacob Lawrence’s and James N. Gregory’s visual arts have provided the viewer with a part of American history.

The methods they used were different, but, still, they were effective. A viewer has an opportunity not only consider what the painting is about, but he/she also can receive substantial experience about American migration which has placed a record in history and remains in the heart of every Native American.

Works Cited

Gregory, James N. American exodus: The dust bowl migration and Okie culture in California. Web.

Lawrence, Jacob. Migration Stories. Web.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2018, December 27). Jacob Lawrence and James N. Gregory: Understanding Migration Experience. https://ivypanda.com/essays/jacob-lawrence-and-james-n-gregory-understanding-migration-experience/

Work Cited

"Jacob Lawrence and James N. Gregory: Understanding Migration Experience." IvyPanda, 27 Dec. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/jacob-lawrence-and-james-n-gregory-understanding-migration-experience/.

References

IvyPanda. (2018) 'Jacob Lawrence and James N. Gregory: Understanding Migration Experience'. 27 December.

References

IvyPanda. 2018. "Jacob Lawrence and James N. Gregory: Understanding Migration Experience." December 27, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/jacob-lawrence-and-james-n-gregory-understanding-migration-experience/.

1. IvyPanda. "Jacob Lawrence and James N. Gregory: Understanding Migration Experience." December 27, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/jacob-lawrence-and-james-n-gregory-understanding-migration-experience/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Jacob Lawrence and James N. Gregory: Understanding Migration Experience." December 27, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/jacob-lawrence-and-james-n-gregory-understanding-migration-experience/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1