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Jacob Lawrence

Pool Parlor

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About the Artwork

Pool Parlor, 1942. Jacob Lawrence. Watercolor and gouache on paper. Arthur Hoppock Hearn Fund, 1942. © 2020 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
In 1942, twenty-five-year-old Lawrence gained national recognition when the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C., shared the acquisition of his sixty-panel Migration of the Negro series and sent it on a fifteen-venue tour across the United States. Later that year, the Metropolitan Museum purchased its first work by the artist, Pool Parlor, a prizewinner in "The Artists for Victory" competition. Painted with Lawrence’s characteristic flat forms, angular lines, and a vibrant palette, the work depicts a Harlem pool hall. Men in exaggerated poses, dramatic contrasts of light and dark, and the zigzag of cigarette smoke all contribute to the lively scene.

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About Our Prints

Quality
Met Custom Prints offers exclusive custom reproductions of artworks in The Met collection. Thanks to gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.
Selection
This is the only place you’ll find reproductions approved by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. We are continually adding new artworks to our offering, so be sure to check back regularly as you build your own gallery. A variety of molding styles means our custom framed prints can match any type of decor.

Member Discounts

Met Members will receive their 15% discount for all Met Custom Prints purchases. If you are Member, when you check out enter your member ID and the last name associated with your membership; once your Membership has been validated, your discount will be applied. Member discounts cannot be combined with other offers.