War Series: Another Patrol 1946

Curator: Jacob Lawrence painted this, calling it "War Series: Another Patrol." It’s dated 1946. He employed tempera and mixed media, resulting in this affecting scene. Editor: Right away, I feel this sort of trudging rhythm to it, doesn’t it strike you that way? The palette feels muted, almost somber, except for that vibrant blue which acts like, I don't know, a kind of forced optimism? Curator: Well, consider the post-war context. Lawrence's work frequently highlighted the African American experience. These figures, burdened, ascending a ramp or staircase, become symbolic of the disproportionate labor often extracted. The limited palette emphasizes the constraints imposed on these workers. Editor: So it’s about physical labour but the overall atmosphere makes me wonder about emotional weight as well? I keep looking at their faces—or the absence of clear features— and feel like this anonymity amplifies a collective grief. Is that what you get from it too? Curator: Absolutely. Lawrence often blurred individual identities to speak about broader societal patterns and social issues. Notice, for example, the repetitious diagonal lines: that could signify a sense of being trapped, always on this endless patrol or shift or task. A cycle with very little recognition given, despite everything. Editor: Yes! The repetition is like… watching cogs in a machine endlessly grind. You almost feel their fatigue, the endless motion upward. And in this abstract sort of simplified style that Lawrence is going for, the laborers are really turned into pieces in a game. Curator: Indeed. His work serves as a poignant record. This piece invites viewers to confront the systems that perpetuate unequal labor practices and hidden stories of post-war America. He calls our attention to process, product, and purpose behind this picture. Editor: Right. It’s deceptively simple in a way; it has those eye-catching angular shapes that draw you in close only to reveal layers and layers. It really does have the feeling of a machine that is both relentless and elegant. Thank you. Curator: Agreed; and understanding these intersecting concepts allows the viewer a deeper more profound understanding of what this painting means in art history.