Final answer:
In Jacob Lawrence's Self Portrait, the painting-within-a-painting suggests the use of symbolism to represent the artist's personal background and experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jacob Lawrence's powerful Self Portrait contains two works of art in the background. At the right, there is a scene of urban fragments and carpentry tools in livelier colors. This painting-within-a-painting suggests the use of symbolism to represent the artist's personal background and experiences.