Jacob Lawrence and The Legend of John Brown

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Jacob Lawrence and The Legend of John Brown
Jacob Lawrence and The Legend of John Brown
Kate Meyer, curator
Gallery 404, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

An exhibition of prints by acclaimed Black modernist Jacob Lawrence that explore the life and death of abolitionist John Brown.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, a man who had a fanatical belief that he was chosen by God to overthrow black slavery in America.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, a man who had a fanatical belief that he was chosen by God to overthrow black slavery in America.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown, a man who had a fanatical belief that he was chosen by God to overthrow black slavery in America.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), For forty years John Brown reflected on the hopeless and miserable conditions of the slaves.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), For forty years John Brown reflected on the hopeless and miserable conditions of the slaves.
Jacob Lawrence
For forty years John Brown reflected on the hopeless and miserable conditions of the slaves.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), For twelve years John Brown engaged in land speculations and wool merchandizing. All this to make some money for his greater work which was the abolishment of slavery.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), For twelve years John Brown engaged in land speculations and wool merchandizing. All this to make some money for his greater work which was the abolishment of slavery.
Jacob Lawrence
For twelve years John Brown engaged in land speculations and wool merchandizing. All this to make some money for his greater work which was the abolishment of slavery.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), His ventures failing him, he accepted poverty.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), His ventures failing him, he accepted poverty.
Jacob Lawrence
His ventures failing him, he accepted poverty.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, while tending his flock in Ohio, first communicated with his sons and daughters his plans of attacking slavery by force.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, while tending his flock in Ohio, first communicated with his sons and daughters his plans of attacking slavery by force.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown, while tending his flock in Ohio, first communicated with his sons and daughters his plans of attacking slavery by force.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown formed an organization among the colored people of the Adirondack woods to resist the capture of any fugitive slaves.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown formed an organization among the colored people of the Adirondack woods to resist the capture of any fugitive slaves.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown formed an organization among the colored people of the Adirondack woods to resist the capture of any fugitive slaves.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), To the people he found worthy of trust, he communicated his plans.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), To the people he found worthy of trust, he communicated his plans.
Jacob Lawrence
To the people he found worthy of trust, he communicated his plans.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown’s first thought of the place where he would make his attack came to him while surveying land for Oberlin College in West Virginia, 1840.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown’s first thought of the place where he would make his attack came to him while surveying land for Oberlin College in West Virginia, 1840.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown’s first thought of the place where he would make his attack came to him while surveying land for Oberlin College in West Virginia, 1840.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Kansas was now the skirmish ground of the Civil War.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Kansas was now the skirmish ground of the Civil War.
Jacob Lawrence
Kansas was now the skirmish ground of the Civil War.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Those pro-slavery were murdered by those anti-slavery.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Those pro-slavery were murdered by those anti-slavery.
Jacob Lawrence
Those pro-slavery were murdered by those anti-slavery.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown took to guerrilla warfare.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown took to guerrilla warfare.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown took to guerrilla warfare.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown’s victory at Black Jack drove those pro-slavery to new fury, and those who were anti-slavery to new efforts.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown’s victory at Black Jack drove those pro-slavery to new fury, and those who were anti-slavery to new efforts.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown’s victory at Black Jack drove those pro-slavery to new fury, and those who were anti-slavery to new efforts.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, after long meditation, planned to fortify himself somewhere in the mountains of Virginia or Tennessee and there make raids on surrounding plantations, freeing slaves.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown, after long meditation, planned to fortify himself somewhere in the mountains of Virginia or Tennessee and there make raids on surrounding plantations, freeing slaves.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown, after long meditation, planned to fortify himself somewhere in the mountains of Virginia or Tennessee and there make raids on surrounding plantations, freeing slaves.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown collected money from sympathizers and friends to carry out his plans.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown collected money from sympathizers and friends to carry out his plans.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown collected money from sympathizers and friends to carry out his plans.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown made many trips to Canada organizing for his assault on Harper’s Ferry.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown made many trips to Canada organizing for his assault on Harper’s Ferry.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown made many trips to Canada organizing for his assault on Harper’s Ferry.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), In spite of a price on his head, John Brown in 1859 liberated twelve negroes from a Missouri plantation.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), In spite of a price on his head, John Brown in 1859 liberated twelve negroes from a Missouri plantation.
Jacob Lawrence
In spite of a price on his head, John Brown in 1859 liberated twelve negroes from a Missouri plantation.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown remained a full winter in Canada, drilling negroes for his coming raid on Harper’s Ferry.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown remained a full winter in Canada, drilling negroes for his coming raid on Harper’s Ferry.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown remained a full winter in Canada, drilling negroes for his coming raid on Harper’s Ferry.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), July 3, 1850. John Brown stocked an old barn with guns and ammunition. He was ready to strike his first blow at slavery.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), July 3, 1850. John Brown stocked an old barn with guns and ammunition. He was ready to strike his first blow at slavery.
Jacob Lawrence
July 3, 1850. John Brown stocked an old barn with guns and ammunition. He was ready to strike his first blow at slavery.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Sunday, October 16, 1859. John Brown with a company of 21 men, white and black, marched on Harper’s Ferry.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), Sunday, October 16, 1859. John Brown with a company of 21 men, white and black, marched on Harper’s Ferry.
Jacob Lawrence
Sunday, October 16, 1859. John Brown with a company of 21 men, white and black, marched on Harper’s Ferry.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown held Harper’s Ferry for twelve hours. His defeat was a few hours off.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown held Harper’s Ferry for twelve hours. His defeat was a few hours off.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown held Harper’s Ferry for twelve hours. His defeat was a few hours off.
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), After John Brown’s capture, he was put on trial for his life in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), After John Brown’s capture, he was put on trial for his life in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Jacob Lawrence
After John Brown’s capture, he was put on trial for his life in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia).
1974–1977
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown was found “guilty of treason and murder in the first degree” and was hanged in Charles Town, Virginia, on December 2, 1859.
Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000); Ives-Sillman, Inc. (1958–1978); Founders Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts (founded 1919); Sirocco Screenprinters (founded 1950), John Brown was found “guilty of treason and murder in the first degree” and was hanged in Charles Town, Virginia, on December 2, 1859.
Jacob Lawrence
John Brown was found “guilty of treason and murder in the first degree” and was hanged in Charles Town, Virginia, on December 2, 1859.
1974–1977

Events

January 17, 2024
Activity
Storytellers and Story Boards
12:00–2:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 404 Marshall Balcony
February 8, 2024
Social
Opening Reception: Spring Exhibitions Member Preview
5:30–7:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 305 Goddard Study Center, 315 Long Ellis Gallery, 316 Simons Gallery, 317 Perkins Central Court, 401 Loo Gallery, 405 Michaelis Gallery, 406 Stewart Gallery, 407 Kress Gallery, 409 Lee Study Center
March 20, 2024
Talk
Jacob Lawrence and the Legend of John Brown
12:00–1:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 404 Marshall Balcony
May 9, 2024
Performance
Q&A with John Brown
6:30–7:30PM
Spencer Museum of Art
May 18, 2024
Activity
Jacob Lawrence in Shapes and Colors
1:00–4:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, 404 Marshall Balcony
June 13, 2024
Talk
Jacob Lawrence and John Brown
10:15–11:00AM
Spencer Museum of Art, 404 Marshall Balcony

Resources

Documents

Exhibition Labels (Formatted)
Location Code Map
Media Coverage