Palmer Hayden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palmer Hayden
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Judging a scene he is painting (early 1930s).
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| Born |
Peyton Cole Hedgeman
January 15, 1890 |
| Died | February 18, 1973 (aged 83) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Columbia University and Cooper Union |
| Known for | Painting |
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Notable work
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The Janitor Who Paints, Fetiche et Fleurs, and His Hammer in His Hand |
| Movement | Harlem Renaissance |
Palmer C. Hayden (born January 15, 1890 – died February 18, 1973) was an American painter. He created art showing the lives of African-American people. He also painted landscapes, seascapes, and art inspired by Africa. Hayden used both oils and watercolors. He was a very active artist during his time.
Early Life and Dreams
Palmer C. Hayden was born Peyton Cole Hedgeman in Widewater, Virginia, on January 15, 1890. His older brother first got him interested in art. But Hayden really wanted to be a fiddle player. He faced challenges like being shy and his family not having much money. Even though he became a successful artist, Hayden later regretted not following his dream of music.
This feeling of regret showed up in some of his paintings. For example, Midnight at the Crossroads shows a tough choice he had to make. The painting suggests he wanted to be a musician. But he ended up choosing a different path. This artwork shows how deeply this decision affected him.
As a teenager, Hayden moved to Washington, D.C. to find work. He worked as a delivery boy and errand runner. The busy city life gave him ideas for his art. In Washington, D.C., Hayden started his art career. He also faced racism there for the first time. He applied for an artist's assistant job. But he was turned down because he was African-American.
Feeling discouraged, Hayden worked for circuses like Buffalo Bill's and Ringling Brothers. He moved between jobs often. Then, he joined the army in 1912. He was part of a black company stationed in the Philippines.
Military Service and First Art Lessons
Hayden enjoyed his free time in the military. He even found a tutor, Second Lieutenant Arthur Boetscher. Boetscher liked drawing maps and gave Hayden art tips. This was Hayden's first real art education. After four years, Hayden joined the army again. He was sent to the 10th Cavalry at West Point. His job was to care for and train horses for the cadets. He also took a drawing course by mail. He spent $10 of his $18 monthly pay on it.
After leaving the army, Hayden moved to Greenwich Village in New York City. To support his art career, he worked many part-time jobs. These included being a postal clerk and a janitor. This time was hard, but it helped him become an important artist. He became a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance.
Becoming an Artist and Traveling to Paris
Hayden wanted to become a professional artist. He studied charcoal drawing at Columbia University. At the same time, he worked nights at the post office. He later quit the post office job. He started cleaning apartments in New York City instead. His first cleaning job was for Victor Perard. Perard was an artist and teacher at the Cooper Union. Perard encouraged Hayden to keep developing his art skills.
Winning Awards and Going to Paris
In 1925, Hayden got a great chance to study with Perard at the Cooper Union. That same year, he went to Maine to study at an art colony. He met a woman named Alice Dike while moving furniture for her. They talked about art and his experiences. Dike was impressed and gave him a brochure. It was about The Harmon Foundation's Award for Distinguished Achievement. This award encouraged artists to enter their work.
Hayden decided to enter. In 1926, he won money and a gold medal for his painting Schooners. He was recognized for Distinguished Achievement in Visual Arts. A New York Times headline about his win was a bit unfair. It said, “Negro Worker Wins Harmon Art Prizes: Gold Medal and $400 Awarded to Man who Washes Windows to Have Time to Paint”. This headline focused on his job and race. But it didn't fully show his hard work. The Harmon Foundation's founder, William E. Harmon, was white. He publicly praised art by an African-American man from a difficult background. This was a strong social statement at the time. This award also helped launch Hayden's art career. It was a big achievement for anyone, especially for a janitor.
Hayden's success with The Harmon Foundation led to his first solo art show. It happened in April 1926 at the Civic Club. With his prize money and a generous gift of $3,000 from Alice Dike, Hayden traveled to Paris, France. He stayed there for five years. Paris gave him new ideas for his art. He didn't go to art school there. Instead, he learned from his experiences. Hayden painted scenes of Parisian life. He also showed how Afro-Europeans were becoming part of the city's fancy places.
An artist named Clivette Le Fevre mentored Hayden for a short time. But their relationship ended. Le Fevre didn't believe in Hayden's talent. Hayden's time in Paris influenced his art style. His 1930 painting Nous Quatre a Paris shows this. It features four black men in a cafe. Their faces have features like large lips. Hayden used these features to highlight black characteristics. These features were often seen negatively by white beauty standards.
While in France, Hayden also traveled to the coasts. He continued to paint landscapes and seascapes. He especially liked Concarneau. This small village was known for its fishermen. He painted many scenes of the town. One example is Concarneau - Andrée de la Mer. He also visited museums like the Louvre. These visits gave him more ideas. Hayden met the philosopher Alain Locke. Locke showed him African art he had collected. Hayden loved African art. This led him to create paintings with African designs and forms. Fetiche et Fleurs from 1933 is an example. He was also interested in colonial Northern African towns. He sketched what he saw in museums and exhibits.
Later Years and Legacy
Ten years after his first trip, Hayden briefly returned to Paris in 1936. Not much is known about this short visit. He was back in New York within a year. At age 50, he married Miriam Huffman. In 1944, he started a new project. This three-year effort resulted in his most important works: The John Henry series. The idea came from a legend his father told him as a child. He researched the folk tale. Then he used it to inspire his art. It's believed this series was important to Hayden. It likely connected to his strong pride in the African-American community.
In his older years, Hayden kept creating art. He often received important awards. He traveled between Paris and the United States for inspiration. Racism remained a key topic in his life and art. He spoke out against racist policies. These policies harmed African-American and Hispanic communities. For example, in 1966, Hayden wrote to William Booth. Booth was the Chairman of the City Commission on Human Rights. Hayden asked for equal numbers of African Americans, Latinos, and white people on the board. He wanted to prevent unfair treatment caused by prejudice.
Hayden passed away on February 18, 1973. He had just received a grant. This grant was to paint Black soldiers from between the world wars.
Images for kids
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Midnight at the Crossroads.jpg
Midnight at the Crossroads by Palmer Hayden
