Nous quatre à Paris

painting by Hayden

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July 21, 2026

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Nous quatre à Paris is a watercolor painting by African American artist Palmer Hayden, created around 1930. Hayden, a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance, painted this work during his time in Paris. The painting depicts Hayden playing cards with fellow artists and writers, including Hale Woodruff, Countee Cullen, and Eric Walrond. Each figure is rendered in profile with exaggerated facial features, a stylistic choice that references indigenous African art. This work showcases Hayden's engagement with African artistic traditions and his social circle during his expatriate period in Paris.1

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Palmer Hayden
…he painted his well-known watercolour Nous quatre à Paris (c. 1930), which features the artist playing cards with Woodruff and writers Countee Cullen and Eric Walrond, each of whom is depicted in profile with exaggerated facial features, making reference to indigenous African art.
Read More
…he painted his well-known watercolour Nous quatre à Paris (c. 1930), which features the artist playing cards with Woodruff and writers Countee Cullen and Eric Walrond, each of whom is depicted in profile with exaggerated facial features, making reference to indigenous African art.
Read More