Motley, Archibald John Jr.

1891-1981 · Contribution: 1918-1940s

Visual Arts

Major Harlem Renaissance-era painter known for vivid depictions of Black urban and nightlife in Chicago, despite his own complicated relationship to the movement itself

Visual Arts: collage image
Visual Arts

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Category
Visual Arts

Impact on the world

Motley painted Black urban nightlife with a technical sophistication rarely afforded such subjects, while his complicated relationship to caricature makes his work a lasting subject of serious debate.

An alternative history

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