Art Analysis: Midsummer Night in Harlem, by Palmer Hayden Essay

‘Midsummer Night in Harlem is an oil painting painted by Palmer Hayden. Palmer C. Hayden was an American painter who delineated African-American life from his perspective, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance. The composition Midsummer Night in Harlem seems to portray African American individuals leaving and unwinding after a night at chapel in Harlem. This work of art shows the vitality and uplifting mentalities of the individuals using energetic hues and the glad appearances of the countenances. The individuals in this image have highlights that were similar to the minstrel characters (Wikipedia, 26 July 2013) frequently delineating Black face. Many have brown complexion with enormous white eyes and teeth, and are on the whole grins. The entirety of the individuals are dressed pleasantly in dresses for the ladies and young ladies, top caps and slacks for the men and young men. It is protected to accept that the individuals in the image had quite recently originated from chapel, in light of the fact that out of sight you unmistakably observe the congregation and a bunch of individuals exiting just as a carload of individuals driving off. The most unmistakable line in this work of art would be vertical, since it drives the eye up/further and further down/up and passes on the movement in the image. Upon first examination of this work, my eyes are attracted to the congregation as point of convergence, primarily as a result of the situating of the congregation and the utilization of the vertical line from the moon to the child at the fire hydrant. This distinguishes the viewers’ perspective and furthermore shows how the moon is utilized as the light source, just as the road light situated just before the congregation. The deception of room around the congregation paving the way to the moon in the sky is used to draw your eye upward as though to imply that it is evening. The hallucination of profundity is used here from multiple points of view by the presence of separation made from the individuals by the congregation in back to the expansion of individuals by the loft steps in front. Ethereal point of view is utilized in this painting by the absence of visual detail of the individuals by the congregation, similar to their facial highlights and their garments. Midsummer Night in Harlem has a particular solidarity of organization all through the whole piece that enables the watcher to relate the imagery of the congregation and moon in back, to the individuals pleasantly dressed and congregating on the loft steps in front. The structures in this work of art are used by the utilization of numerous three-dimensional shapes with length, width and profundity, similar to the high rises, the vehicle and the congregation. Difference is utilized all through the work to help manage your eye from the high rises to the congregation, and the individuals. Development is utilized in this piece by the utilization of lines, differentiating shapes and hues to control the viewers’ eye all through the sythesis. In this masterpiece, our eyes move upward from lines of the young man by the hydrant up to the individuals watching out of windows of the condo. From that point, our eyes move to the slight difference in shades of the congregation and the moon in the sky. A decent measure of equalization is made in this fine art by the manner in which the hues and shapes are consolidated in congruity. In this picture, Hayden accomplishes a feeling of equalization by separating the picture in two segments: the correct side is involved by subtleties of individuals with particular highlights while the left side does not have a lot of detail in the individuals and spotlights on the congregation and moon. Midsummer Night in Harlem has a shading plan that is closely resembling in light of the fact that the hues work in agreement and is exceptionally satisfying to the eye. The primary hues in this composition are red, earthy colored, white and dark. The estimation of the hues utilized in this fine art is set to dull while the force and splendor is set to medium. For instance, the reds, burgundy and earthy colored utilized in the image (particularly for the high rises and dress) are warm yet seem somewhat mitigated in shading. Hayden makes accentuation through shading and position all through this piece. For instance the essences of the individuals goes in power by the dull appearances and splendid grins as referenced before. Additionally the outfits worn by the individuals exhibit accentuation in shading; some are sporting white while others are in print and shading. All in all, the canvas Midsummer Night in Harlem uses a vertical directional line that shows that there is some development in the image, yet is quieting as a result. The primary inferred shape all through this work of art is a square shape which additionally incites a quieting impact. The work of art has a slight balance of shading with an undifferentiated from amicability all through. The general figment of profundity and space in this piece gives solidarity and parity to the arrangement.