"Supermarket" |
The serigraph, Supermarket-Flora by Jacob Lawrence, shows bright, clean primary colors of reds, blues and yellows (photographs and other reproductions seem to present darker hues). Typically Lawencesque are the geometric shapes and forms that make up the picture. Notice the abstract qualities of the serigraph at first glance, although non-the-less, full of vibrance and character. The forms seem to cluster toward the middle, leaving hardly any room for more than just flowers all around. After a second good took at the image, it is possible to separate the forms from the space around them. The open window with deep sill allows outdoor flowers to pour inside, yet distance can be perceived between the window and outdoors or the window and the table with potted plants. The blue figure on the right and the tall green plant on the left take up the middle ground at some range away from the window. |
The table with red flowers further assists in defining Lawrence's use of the space as it plants itself in the foreground creatingsubtle but clearly reasonable space between itself and other objects. That table helps to establish Lawrence's space allowance which separates the foreground from the middle ground and the background layers of the creation. With flowers all over, enveloping such a compact space, the viewer might indeed experience the sense of availability, variety, and desire found in a marketplace. Hence, the title, Supermarket-Flora.
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