the builders,the family//this is a family living in harlem

While both “The builders, The Family” and “This is a family living in Harlem”, by Jacob Lawrence are similar in subject matter, palette, and geometric form they differ in symmetry, artistic technique, and mood.
In “The builders, the family” the artist, Jacob Lawrence, chose screen-print for this painting making everything smooth, sharp, precise. The layout is very symmetric. The objects, the family, and the workers all appear to be directing up symbolizing a positive painting. All colors in this painting are very bright. In addition to the symmetry in this painting, the body language is very positive. All the members in the family are wearing yellow which is a very happy color. The father of this painting is wearing a white color instead of the workers that are wearing blue collars. The white collar symbolizes a hard job that does not require physical work. The blue collars symbolize a hard working job that requires physical work. This family seems to be a very wealthy family.
In “This is a family living in Harlem” Jacob Lawrence chose a regular painting style making the painting appear rough and shabby. The layout is asymmetric. Everything in the painting is scattered, the family, the stove, where the lines meet, and the curtains. All of the colors in this painting are bright nut do not give off a happy emotion. The body language is negative, the family seems to be slouched, hunched over, and very down. All family members are wearing all different colors that do not see to be very positive. The father in this painting is wearing a blue collar unlike the father in the other painting showing he most likely has a hard job that requires physical work. This family appears to be a not so wealthy family.
In conclusion, “The builders, the family” and “This is a family in Harlem” are similar in subject matter, palette, and geometric form. They differ in positivity, negativity, wealth, symmetry, artistic technique, and mood.