Tombstones 1942

"Tombstones" is a 1942 gouache painting by Jacob Lawrence. The artwork depicts a street scene in Harlem with figures going about their day, as well as a storefront that sells tombstones. The painting's stark colors and geometric shapes highlight the harsh realities of life in Harlem, including poverty and death, while the figures are rendered in a simplified style that evokes the graphic tradition of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Lawrence's use of vibrant color and bold lines add to the dynamic energy of this poignant image, which was part of a larger series that chronicled the experiences of African Americans during the Great Migration.