Jacob Lawrence was an important African-American painter known for his portrayals of black culture in the early 20th century. Consisting of 60 panels of sensitively colored figurative paintings, the artist’s hallmark work Migration Series (1940–1941), depicts the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to Northern cities between World War I and World War II. “My belief is that it is most important for an artist to develop an approach and philosophy about life,” he once said. “If he has developed this philosophy, he does not put paint on canvas, he puts himself on canvas.” Born on September 7, 1917 in Atlantic City, NJ and, showing early talent at a young age, was encouraged to attend the Harlem Community Art Center where he...