Jacob Lawrence (African American, 1917–2000). Overtime, 1987. Gouache on paper. © 2012 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo Credit: The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation / Art Resource, NY.

Known for what he called “dynamic cubism,” Lawrence used bold colors in strips tough as muscle fiber, swatches of stress and strain. His works convey not just physical movement but historical struggle. Here, basketball players push their limits in the frantic moments of a tied game, and spectators become part of the action, reaching for the ball, reaching for the win.