The painting
Playing Checkers is a well-known painting, oil on canvas,which was created by the American ethnic painter Harry Herman Roseland (1866-1950) in 1901. It shows an African American woman who plays checkers with her little daughter. The painting measures 16" by 20".
Harry Herman Roseland was one of the most notable painters of the genre painting school around the turn of the 20th century. Roseland was primarily known for paintings centered on poor African-Americans. He won many awards in his lifetime. These include gold medals from the Brooklyn Art Club (1888), the Boston Art Club (1904), and the American Art Society in Philadelphia (1907).