The Checker Players
Artist
Jacob Lawrence
American, 1917–2000
Date1947
Mediumegg tempera on gessoed panel (hardboard)
Dimensionscanvas: 50.8 x 61 cm (20 x 24 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineGift of Saundra B. Lane in memory of her husband, William H. Lane, and purchase through the Stoddard Acquisition Fund
Object number1996.62
Label TextLawrence grew up in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City during the flourishing of Black
cultural expression known as the Harlem or New
Negro Renaissance. He depicted stories of Black
life and history throughout his acclaimed career.
With simplified angular shapes and bold primary
colors, this painting captures the camaraderie of a
group of men playing checkers and listening to
baseball on an unseen radio. Lawrence painted this
work in 1947, but retroactively dated it to 1937
(presumably in error). Interestingly, 1947 was the
year Jackie Robinson became the first Black
American to play Major League Baseball since the
1880s. Like most sectors of American life in the
first half of the 20th century, professional sports
were racially segregated. The scoreboard in the
background of Lawrence’s painting lists Negro
Baseball League teams.Provenance(The Downtown Gallery, New York, NY); Selden Rodman [1909-2002], Oakland, NJ; (Terry Dintenfass Gallery, New York, NY); 1962, William H. Lane [1914-1995]; Saundra B. Lane [1939-2023]; 1996, gifted to the Worcester Art Museum.
On View
On viewCurrent Location
- Exhibition Location Gallery 4001
