The Swearing In

American painter Jacob Lawrence was devoted to representing the African American experience in his works, which are vividly colored, dynamic, and frequently have a strong narrative. This color screenprint was commissioned by the Carter-Mondale Inaugural Committee as a way to raise money to keep museums in Washington, D.C. open in the evenings during their Inauguration Week. The print shows a crowd that has gathered amongst the trees at the swearing in of President Carter. People are coming together to witness a political process that is both historic and an essential part of being involved in one’s own government. The celebration in this work shows community as vital in determining who is in power and therefore the general well-being.

Isabella Chalfant ‘22

Similar Images (Silk Screen)