War Series: The Letter 1946

Jacob Lawrence's "War Series: The Letter" (1946) depicts a solitary figure, hunched over a table, with their back to the viewer. The figure is in the act of reading a letter, their face concealed by the dark brown background. This piece is part of a series that explores the impact of World War II on African Americans, capturing a moment of personal reflection and the weight of news received from the front lines. Lawrence's bold, simplified style, characteristic of his work, adds to the emotional intensity of the scene. The artwork can be viewed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.