Combing Her Hair 1945

Curator: This is Clementine Hunter's "Combing Her Hair," a small, vibrant painting in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. It offers an intimate glimpse into everyday life. Editor: There's something so immediate and genuine about its simplicity. The figures feel grounded, like they’ve always been there on that grassy knoll. Curator: Hunter, a self-taught artist, worked as a field hand and cook at Melrose Plantation. Her art reflects her lived experience, depicting scenes of work and leisure. Notice the raw materiality of the paint, almost childlike in its application. Editor: And think of the social context! Born in the late 19th century, Hunter's work provides a crucial perspective on Black life in the Jim Crow South. The act of combing hair becomes a gesture of self-care and community amidst systemic oppression. Curator: Absolutely. Hunter's use of readily available materials – paint on whatever surfaces she could find – speaks to a resourceful creativity born of necessity. It challenges the traditional art world's hierarchies. Editor: It’s a reminder that art thrives in the spaces between the established narratives. I am struck by the fact that these paintings were initially sold for next to nothing and have now become nationally recognized pieces. Curator: Exactly, a testament to the power of art rooted in lived experience. Editor: It makes you consider the value we place on certain kinds of making, and who gets to decide.