James Van Der Zee
1886–1983 · United States
Elegance and social life in photographs of Harlem.
The story
James Van Der Zee ran a portrait studio in Harlem, photographing couples, families, associations and events. His images accompanied the ways people presented themselves and preserved a collective memory. Settings, props and retouching all contributed to the construction of his portraits. This body of work documents African American life while showing how studio photography can be a space for self-invention.
Understanding the work
Look at clothes, poses and props as choices of representation. A portrait is also a negotiation between the sitter and the expertise of the studio.
Key works and series
Couple, Harlem; Harlem portraits; ceremonies and community groups.
Sources & further exploration
Works in collections.
5 recordsPhotographs to explore on museum and library websites, with titles, dates and processes. Each link opens the collection record and its image where one is available.
