In 1942, twenty-five-year-old Lawrence gained national recognition when the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, shared the acquisition of his 60-panel Migration of the Negro series and sent it on a 15-venue tour across the United States. Later that year, the Metropolitan Museum purchased its first work by the artist, Pool Parlor, a prizewinner in "The Artists for Victory" competition. Painted with Lawrence’s characteristic flat forms, angular lines, and a vibrant palette, the work depicts a Harlem pool hall. Men in exaggerated poses, dramatic contrasts of light and dark, and the zigzag of cigarette smoke all contribute to the lively scene. (http://metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/488043)