The South Entrance by Chipka
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Description
The Fisher Building is one of Chicago’s many hidden architectural gems; there have been others—contemporaries of the Fisher—but they’ve been torn down in the name of progress and modernization. As a result of this, the Fisher Building holds rank as Chicago’s oldest 18-story building. At its completion in 1896, it did—indeed—have 18 floors. In 1907, an addition was architecturally, um…postworked, and it was at this time that the Fisher gained two additional floors. When walking by the Fisher Building—along State Street, it’s almost possible to see distinctions between the original building and the addition tacked onto its northern face. Due to skyscraper congestion, however, one cannot gain a view of the tower in its full—and by Chicago standards—ancient glory. Like many venerable buildings in the Loop are, the Fisher Building has been extensively retrofitted. It is now a stack of expensive apartments.
Throughout the years, I’ve heard people talking about an architectural style known as Chicago Gothic, though to be honest, the name makes me think of a short-lived television show, along the lines of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks…only flatter. I’m not entirely certain that there is such a thing as Chicago Gothic, but I could be wrong on that point. At any rate, the Fisher Building is a visual explosion of gothic architectural flamboyance: or it would be if it was small enough for you to actually see all of what’s there. The building is more a Gothic impression than an overt expression of the style. Only its entrances give any kind of a clue as to the sheer number of details the building possesses. There are cherubs, fish, crabs, gargoyles (maybe a chimera or two, but Chicagoans aren’t really big on distinguishing between those two species of architectural ornamentation,) and other examples of mythic zoology. Most are, however, obscured by the building’s height, the building’s neighbors, and the indifference of pedestrians at street level. Chicago Transit Authority El tracks don’t help matters, either.
I nabbed this shot of the south entrance, as I stepped by it with Corey. We were on our way back to his apartment, and we were both stopped in our tracks by a strange and unexpected play of light. The foot of the Fisher Building sinks into perpetual shadow, and—often—the only light in the area is artificial. On that particular day, and at that particular time, sunlight touched the stone tower’s southern windows, reflected onto the glass face of the building across the street, and reflected back onto the Fisher Building itself. The place revealed something I’d scarcely seen: color. I’d always known of the Fisher’s details, those annoying child-sculptures and cryptic, bearded fish; I was always amazed by the crabs, the distinctly…um…mammalian fish, the eagles (fish eating eagles?) and the doohickies and doodads that often define the flagrance of gothic façade-work; I was surprised that they all looked so clean, so detailed, so much better than the rest of the South Loop area. Naturally, I had to pause and nab a few shots. I wanted one of the eagles, or one of the chimeras, but I settled for the pudgy baby-things as they were all that stood within camera range. There are fish, however, so all isn’t lost, and it’s fitting since the building is at least named—tangentially—for them. (Actually it was originally named for that Louis Fisher guy; he had something to do with paper. I’d look him up but I’m incredibly lazy at the moment.)
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a fantastic week.
Comments (24)
wotan
Beautiful art in this impressive building! Fascinating details when zoomed...
Sepiasiren
gorgeous building and shot, I really enjoy the stone facades with the renaissance style cherubs...
CoreyBlack
Great shot of one of the many amazing details of this building. One of the few you can actually clearly see anyway...and only, as you said, because of the lighting at the moment you made it. This highlights one of the many annoying paradoxes of trying to make photos in Chicago, and especially in the Downtown/Loop. There are still(even after 50+ years of urban renewal) tons of great old buildings here. Buildings that are almost impossible to make decent pictures of because the views are almost always blocked off by other infrastructure, and lighting conditions that are equally abysmal, largely because of THAT infrastructure, and because the the lighting in Chicago, as a rule, sucks toilet bowls.Anyway... A great shot of an amazing building that is almost impossible to photograph. Very nice work here.
blinkings
Wonderful post mate. I'm about to google it!
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
RodS
Wonderful detail - they just don't make 'em like this any more. Superb capture, Chip!
auntietk
Holy cow! I want to walk up one street and down another, just looking at the buildings and taking pictures of stuff like this. (And there's this other one, on State and something (very near this building) that's ... yikes! ... amazing!) Can we do that? There are SO many things to see in Chicago! I'm afraid I'm going to miss something. LOL!
durleybeachbum
What a visual treat! So glad you managed to get it. In my youth I might have fancied riding bare-fannied on a bearded fish myuself.
Lashia
Amazing entry! Great shot- thanks for sharing! :)
Selina Photography™
whaleman
That illustrates a level of craftsmanship now long departed, and we are poorer for it.
Mondwin
Amazing details my friend!!!!!Bravissimo!:DDD.Hugsxx Whylma
flavia49
great shot
helanker
Chip, here I wrote an long line of what I, when I ended it all and reread it, found stupid. lol ! SO I deleted it and wont again try to say something clever here other than I think the momument or what you call such is really a fantastic piece of art. And I think you did a great job capturing it, now that the light was in the best position.
Sea_Dog
Fascinating details. A great shot and information.
JaneEden
Amazing shot, when you think how many hours of work has gone into those sculptures and half the time nobody notices them I suspect! Great shot Chip, hugs Jane xx
sandra46
WONDERFUL ENTRANCE
MrsRatbag
So beautiful; I wish buildings were still built this way, with hordes of craftsmen ornamenting them. Excellent capture, Chip!
jac204
Very impressive building and background information. Thanks to dudleybeachbum and his "bearded fish" comment I went back and took a second look of the detail of the two cherubs, lol. Thanks for sharing this great capture.
Orinoor
I love this type of architecture, so ornate and opulent. Gorgeous shot.
evielouise
I think it would be wonderful if they just kept these older buildings up,but like an old home things have to be made sure they are safe ,this is abeautiful stucture indeed
beachzz
That golden glow makes this seem otherwordly; it would stop me in my tracks as well!!
anahata.c
first Chip, I wanted to tell you that I'm putting up a dedi for you in the next week or two. It should be soon---I'm working on it as we speak. But I also wanted to express my appreciation for this image & your thoughts on it. You absolutely captured all the problems of huge & tall buildings trying to make an artistic statement. One of the criticisms that the modern age had for older architectural styles carved onto high-rises was that the detail was mostly obscured because it was way too high a structure for the human eye to detect it (the Fisher continues Gothic detail throughout much of the facade). But also that these designs are always obscured by their neighbors because few high rises will ever be seen "alone," surrounded by space. But contrarily: Was the glass & steel box the big 'solution'? Each style has its huge drawbacks & each style has its real glories---assuming the latter is done with beauty. The fisher stands out in this area for its golden glow---esp in the sun, as you've captured here---and it's exotic and very traditional gothic elements, combined. And I love your pointing out the 'fish' in Fisher, referring to some of its inventive ornament. But as you nabbed, that part of the Loop is so cloistered, you feel like you're viewing a monument in a cavern with almost no light in spots, and enough grime to make one want to keep walking. The Old Colony is there, shorn of the ornament of the Fisher, the Monadnock closeby, and I think the Marquette too. (Don't know if the "Plymouth" still stands, but it's even more of an old relic, standing there like a big deal with no place to go, and mostly ugly for all its early Chicago School appeal.) All old warhorses of the Chicago School, which is still filled with boxy old beasts, squat things that may speak of a new age but still feel very old industrial at the same time. When you see gothic on the Trib Tower, it works a little better, because the Tower stands more "alone," and feels taller than wider. Whereas too many of Chicago School buildings feel squat and kind of clutzy. Sorry Chicago School fans, but they just do. The Fisher has a grace that some of its neighbors don't aspire towards, and the hue of its brick & stone adds a real 'light' to it. But in this neighborhood, you have few if any trees, narrow streets---it looks a little like Wall Street only grungier---and the el and sooty facades. The district feels like a museum that went to hell somewhere along the line. Yet you've captured some of the great poetry of the Fisher, and those funny letters---more 19th C "nouveau" than medieval calligraphic/gothic. Fine detail, Chip, and real Chip lighting too---with that big sun-flare in the corner, making it seem like it's communing with the gods. More urban poetry from you in the midst of the most unlikely places. I'm not doing more of your gallery just now, because I'm working on that dedi, lol. (I have no idea if you'll like it, but at least you'll know it's from the heart.) Great job on this...I worked for the old Landmarks Preservation Council---don't even know if they still exist---and spent more time in this cavernous neighborhood than I ever though I would. It has charm & encrusted beauty, age and utter creepiness at the same time. Love to see Chicago through your eye! A terrific capture of this entry-way.
belasebok
Excellent photo of this building. You are right, the lighting is very delicate!
danapommet
Forgive me Chip that I am so far behind. I will catch up. Love the details in zoom mode and the look of the aging patina. Dana