Fishermen on the Kalamazoo by Robert Harry Fort

Painting

-

Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

Oil painting of fishermen and a boy on a boat

Oil painting of fishermen and a boy on a boat

Name/Title

Fishermen on the Kalamazoo by Robert Harry Fort

Entry/Object ID

2018.04.02

Tags

Collecting the Art Coast

Description

Oil on canvas painting of two African American men and a young boy fishing in a boat on the Kalamazoo River. The painting measures 21.5" by 17.5" with a gold painted wood frame 2" wide. Signed by Robert Fort. Based on men's clothing such as square cropped tie and hats, painting may date from 1920s.

Type of Painting

Easel

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil

Collection

Artworks, Sports: fishing

Cataloged By

Voss, Mary

Acquisition

Accession

2018.04

Source or Donor

Leese, Darin & Frank Vandervort

Acquisition Method

Donation

Made/Created

Artist

Fort, Robert "Harry" 1875-1954

Date made

1920 - 1940

Notes

Date: 1920

Lexicon

Search Terms

Painting, Painting of Kalamazoo River Fisherman, African-Americans, boat in river, Kalamazoo River

Dimensions

Height

17-1/2 in

Width

21-1/2 in

Dimension Notes

Frame Size: 21.5" by 17.5"

Location

Shelf

AC bay 14

Room

Art Conservation Room

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Exhibition

Rediscovering a Michigan Painter

Interpretative Labels

Label

From "Robert Fort: Rediscovering a Michigan Artist" at the OSH 2020 Robert Harry Fort 1875 – 1954 Untitled (African-American Fishermen on the Kalamazoo) undated | oil on canvas This painting shows three generations of fishermen on the Kalamazoo River. The painting is exceptional for its subject matter: a sympathetic depiction of a family group of African-American men in the early 20th century. We know little about Fort’s choice of subjects or their identities but the painting serves as a document of African-American life in the Saugatuck-Douglas community. Fort uses an interesting technique to create the illusion of depth. Here he uses darker color in the background and a lighter color in the foreground which creates a “glow” around the men. The reflection in the water of the dark boat rivet the viewer’s eye to the three men. A small sailboat in the middle ground, the only light color in the composition, serves to constantly pull the eye back to the men. Purple at the horizon creates a sense of mist common in early morning. Collection: Saugatuck Douglas History Center 2018.04.02 Gift of Darin Leese and Frank Vandervort

General Notes

Note

Status: OK Status By: Mary Voss Status Date: 2018-01-29

Create Date

January 29, 2018

Update Date

April 29, 2025