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One of African America's best known painters of the 20th century was Hale Woodruff (1900-1980), who participated in the African-American community in Paris, in the Harlem Renaissance, and in the activities of the New York School after the Second World War (Woodruff settled in New York in 1946, and remained there for the rest of his life). Woodruff's work was early influenced by Cezanne, Matisse and European modernism; later by his studies with Diego Rivera. After 1946, his paintings became increasingly abstract, reflecting his interest in non-objective imagery and in his African roots. From 1963-66, Woodruff participated in Spiral, not generally called the Spiral Artists' Group, African-American artists in New York whose works were in sympathy with the rising consciousness of the African-American community while retaining their own stylistic individuality. This canvas was a gift to the Mulvane in 1985, in recognition of an exhibit by Jim Hunt featuring Woodruff's paintings.