Palmer Hayden - Midsummer Night in Harlem, 1938

Oil on Canvas

Thursdays are dedicated to honoring artists who have passed away but whose contributions to the art world remain significant. Their impact should never be forgotten

Palmer C. Hayden (January 15, 1890 – February 18, 1973) was an American painter who depicted African American life. He painted in oils and watercolors and was a prolific artist of his era.

Hayden’s painting "Midsummer Night in Harlem" vividly captures the lively urban life in Harlem during the Renaissance. Hayden skillfully emphasizes the richness of the skin tones and the striking contrast of the eyes in this piece. Despite these features, the individuals in the painting exude joy and contentment while immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of Harlem. However, Hayden encountered criticism for incorporating stereotypical traits in the artwork. African-American art historian James Porter misinterpreted Hayden's intentions and rebuked the painting as a misdirection of talent, drawing parallels to billboards advertising blackface minstrels. In response, Hayden clarified that his objective was not to introduce satirical elements to his art but to pioneer a new form of expression. - Regenia A. Perry. Free within Ourselves: African-American Artists in the Collection of the National Museum of American Art (Washington, D.C.: National Museum of American Art in Association with Pomegranate Art Books, 1992).

The artist "presented ordinary people doing ordinary work with such vitality that it transcended all ethnic boundaries," art historian Samella Lewis wrote in a statement from the Los Angeles Times.

There is no information on the whereabouts of the original painting.