John and Abigail Adams: A Tradition Begins
John and Abigail Adams had a wealth of experience in establishing and living in official houses prior to their move...
The Builders by Jacob Lawrence
- Artist
- Jacob Lawrence
- Date of Work
- 1947
- Medium
- Tempera
- Type
- Abstract
- Credit
- The White House Historical Association (White House Collection)
The Builders by Jacob Lawrence
The Builders by Jacob Lawrence, 1947. Tempera on board, 20 x 24 inches.
Brilliant, saturated orange-red startles our eyes and commands our attention. The medium is egg tempera, notable for its purity and brilliance. These rectilinear red blocks are played against and interlocked with smaller areas of black, creating a shallow space. Brown and gray-brown patches are used for horizontal beams or plywood panels. Blue is also important, for modeling and for the diagonals that animate the basic compositional grid.
Kloss, William, et al. Art in the White House: A Nation's Pride. Washington, D.C.: The White House Historical Association, 2008.
Gift of the White House Acquisition Trust.
You Might Also Like
-
-
History in White House Silver
One of the most interesting collections of silver of which this country can boast is at the White House. I...
-
Reflections After the Fire
This shaving mirror, one of a pair, has a remarkable history. It not only reflected the face of President James...
-
Splendor and Scrutiny of White House Tableware
When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau attended a State Dinner at the White House o...
-
Official White House China: From the 18th to the 21st Centuries
The house in which the President of the United States lives has always had a great fascination for American citizens...
-
Nell Arthur's Memorial Window
Stained glass, a medieval art, was revisited in the historically retrospective nineteenth century. The art was a prominent feature of...
-
Romantic Expansions
In our own time thoughts about “the West” have been rather vividly colored by popular culture imagery depicting the rugged indi...
-
Uriah Levy's Gift to the Nation
For nearly twenty seven years, a full-length bronze sculpture of Thomas Jefferson was displayed at the center of the North...
-
Mrs. Nixon and the White House Collection
When President and Mrs. Richard M. Nixon took residence at the White House in 1969, the wear and tear of thousands...
-
Using Art to Study the Past
When studying events that occurred before the widespread use of photography, historians have used artwork to supplement resources such as...
-
Decorating the White House
Congress has always been tasked with appropriating funds for the care, repair, refurnishing and maintenance of the White House and...
-
Photo History in White House Silver: Jackson Coffeepot
This neoclassical silver coffeepot was made by French silversmith Jacques-Henri Fauconnier before 1833. It was part of a 130-piece silver service...