The Fisherman

Were it not for his fisherman’s attire, this elegant and dignified man could be mistaken for an English country gentleman. His beard and moustache are impeccably coiffed. He is serene, pausing for a moment with his pipe and glancing into the distance. He creates a separation between himself and the viewer by not making eye contact. The Fisherman, an extraordinarily skillful portrait, was painted by a young African American artist, Archibald J. Motley Jr, who would later become famous for his depictions of jazz nightlife in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Motley composed this painting in 1918, the year he graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. There he studied with distinguished professors such as George Bellows and Karl Buehr, both represented in the Club’s collection. In fact, The Fisherman was an assignment in a class instructed by Karl Buehr. Motley was said to revere Buehr, remarking he was "…a great influence on me not only as a painter, but as a gentleman, as a man…he taught me more about painting than any other man." (See Wendy Greenhouse, "An Early Portrait by Archibald J. Motley, Jr," p. 97, The American Art Journal, vol 29, nos. 1 and 2, 1998). The Union League Club painting thus offers a rare glimpse into the early career of this legendary artist.

Motley was born in New Orleans and his family moved to Chicago when he was a baby. Chicago would be his home for most of his life, and he fiercely identified with the vibrant city and its inhabitants. When separated from Chicago, he often became homesick; such was the case in 1929 when he traveled to Paris on a Guggenheim fellowship. Growing up during the roaring twenties and thirties, he endured the 1919 race riots and constant prejudice, but overcame many barriers thanks to his talent, sense of purpose, and spiritual fortitude.