From 1946 to 1998, Lawrence made paintings based on the theme of builders. These works present a limited palette of primary colors, black, and white; and human activity is juxtaposed against architectural elements, building tools, and materials. They communicate Lawrence’s ideas about American worker culture, pointedly include female workers, and expand the idea of the builder to include the family. These works also symbolically reflect increased African-American participation in the building trades during the 1940s and late 1960s.full view