First-Ever Auction Dedicated to African-American Fine Art at Swann ...

The auction contains a veritable who's who of important African American artists, and includes some of the scarcest and most important examples of their work. For instance, it is very rare to find complete sets of Jacob Lawrence's prints. This sale offers his first and last major series, both based on paintings made by the artist early in his career: "The Legend of John Brown," portfolio with complete text, printed folders and 22 color screenprints, 1977, and The Life of Toussaint L'Ouverture, a collection of 15 color screenprints, 1986-97 (each series estimated $130,000 to $160,000). Also included is Lawrence's Eight Studies for the Book of Genesis, 1989-90 ($40,000 to $60,000). Noteworthy prints by other artists include several very scarce examples, such as Dox Thrash's Old Barns, aquatint, 1937-38 ($5,000 to $8,000); Charles White's poignant Awaiting His Return, lithograph, 1946 ($15,000 to $25,000); and Elizabeth Catlett's Negro Woman, lithograph, 1945 ($8,000 to $12,000).

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