Washington, DC (July 10)--For nearly 50 years, Jacob Lawrence was widely regarded as America's most important black artist. His work is known throughout the world for its depiction of the black American experience form the Civil War to the civil rights movement and beyond. He was raised during the Depression, and his first art training was through social programs under FDR's New Deal. Lawrence served with the Coast Guard during World War II, and that inspired him to become a combat artist for the Coast Guard. He donated several paintings to the Coast Guard, one worth more than $200,000. Photo courtesy Coast Guard Historian
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