Palmer Hayden was an African American painter whose work became known during the Harlem Renaissance.  Hayden took his inspiration from the environment around him, focusing on the African American experience. He tried to capture both rural life in the South, as well as urban backgrounds in New York City. Many of these urban paintings were centered in Harlem. 

The inspiration for "The Janitor Who Paints" came from Cloyde Boykin, a friend of Palmer's.  Boykin was also a painter who supported himself through janitorial work.  Hayden once said, “I painted it because no one called Cloyde a painter; they called him a janitor.”  Many people consider this painting to be an expression of the tough times Palmer was having.

You can view Hayden's most famous work using the link below:
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=8&psid=2582&filepath=http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/primarysources_upload/images/midsummer_night_in_harlem_l.jpg

Using your Harlem Renaissance lens and focused questions, examine Hayden's work and document your thinking.