We Four in Paris

Palmer Hayden 

The piece above, Nous Quatre a Paris (We Four in Paris), was brought to this complicated world by Palmer Hayden. Its watercolor on paper and is currently at exhibited at the MET in New York. At first glance we see four African American men sitting around a table playing poker while another two play pool in the background. On the poker table there is a glass of wine, keep in mind that during the Harlem Renaissance there was a prohibition on all alcohol. The oddest thing about the piece is that all four men, playing poker, are staring away from their cards and of to the sides. They seem to be on high alert due to their distracted faces and long stiff necks. They look as if they are worried that they'll get in trouble for playing poker and drinking some wine, which they would. I didn't really get much more out it than that. They look worried that as Black men, playing poker and drinking win, they'll get busted by the white cops and sent to prison.

I selected the piece because of the technique they used to make it, watercolor. The watercolor really stood out compared to the rest of the pieces I saw on Google images. Most of the other art was from Harlem Renaissance was done with paint and created a very bright, vivid and flat composition. This is much smoother, relaxed and gives the feeling of a sketchy pub filled with cigarette smoke. In addition, I also was intrigued by the different skin tones Hayden gave the four men at the table. It's a great defense against the generalized term "black". Though they are all under the category "black", they have vert distinct skin tones. Side noting, the man on the right reminded me of black face actors during the 19 century.

It was hard for me to deiced which HR theme to use because it wasn't very obvious with this piece. However, I concluded that it depicted the determination to fight against the oppressor. The African American men aren't physically fighting nor are they doing anything thats obviously agains the oppressor. However, they are disobeying the rules, rebelling and having fun. By not conforming to the strict rules set against them they are testing and toying with the government.