Jacob Lawrence found inspiration in the Harlem community where he was raised. His early work depicts scenes of Harlem life—people, rooms, facades, sidewalks, streets, and storefronts—in bold colors and shapes. The most ordinary tasks, events, and routines sparked Lawrence's imagination. He used what he saw around him every day to document the people, street scenes, movement, color, sounds, and spirit of the community. In this image, Lawrence used repetition, shadows, and patterns to create the rhythm of an urban neighborhood, vibrant with activity
