Lawrence, Jacob (1993). Builders in the Workshop [gouache on paper]. © 2008 The Estate of Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence/Artists Rights Society, New York.

I believe spatial order, the perception of color and realism in general are subordinate to the motion and focused tone of this work. Action and movement are expressed exceptionally well, in large part because of the decorative treatment and unexpected coloring of shapes and space. |

Three figures interact in a machinery or carpentry work shop. Their rendering and directional forces express the deliberate activity they are engaged in with creating and building. This work is created with gouache on paper.

Rigid shapes create gestural and mechanical forms. They are all formatted with rough texture and some detail, but the overall affect is to create a flat sense of space. A child-like sense of convergence in combination with overlap are also used. All natural and artificial objects are positioned in a sort of fractional representation unique to this work, to present them from their most recognizable angle. High and low-key values format the small shapes, the treatment of which support the dominant elements.

This is an asymmetrically balanced work inspiring a sense of vertical tension. Texture and form format are consistent throughout the work. Stark colors and large shapes dominate, and are somewhat countered by dense and light small objects. Balance is found with the interaction between gestural and artificial forms. The background and shelves create even starker geometric shapes than the mechanical ones.

Energy and motion are what creates dominance in this work, not visual formatting. This is especially true where the two central figures seem to share the same shape. The gestures of all three figures and their overlapping interactions infuse this work with life. The picture plane is roughly parallel with all lines of force. The picture frame supports the motion, and is contrasted with some of the horizontal organization.

Lawrence uses several creation-organizing strategies well in this work: countering lines of motion, primary and secondary areas of importance, and the subordination of certain aspects of development (such as spatial dept and optical realism). This is truly a master work of fine art; artistic elements and formats are carefully considered and arranged in a way that brings order from from roughly created shaped.