New exhibition at Chicago Maritime Museum highlights work from 19th-century Chicago artist

CHICAGO — A new exhibition at the Chicago Maritime Museum is bringing new interest to the work of a Black artist from the late 19th-century.

The five oil paintings that depict scenes of the Chicago River are unsigned and so far unattributed, but they leave a lasting impression.

Madeline Crispell, the curator of the Chicago Maritime Museum, believes the paintings, match the style subject matter and timeframe of the artist James Bolivar Needham.

WGN’s Gaynor Hall has a look at the history behind the paintings and the artist who is believed to be responsible.