alb3818477

James VanDerZee, American Photographer

James Van Der Zee (June 29, 1886 - May 15, 1983) was an African-American photographer best known for his portraits of black New Yorkers. He was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Aside from the artistic merits of his work, Van Der Zee produced the most comprehensive documentation of the period. In 1916 he launched the Guarantee Photo Studio in Harlem. His business boomed during WWI, and the portraits he shot from this period until 1945 have demanded the majority of critical attention. Works by Van Der Zee are artistic as well as technically proficient. His work was in high demand, in part due to his experimentation and skill in double exposures and in retouching negatives of children. One theme that recurs in his photographs was the emergent black middle class, which he captured using traditional techniques in often idealistic images. He died in 1983 at the age of 96.

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Title:

James VanDerZee, American Photographer

Caption:

James Van Der Zee (June 29, 1886 - May 15, 1983) was an African-American photographer best known for his portraits of black New Yorkers. He was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Aside from the artistic merits of his work, Van Der Zee produced the most comprehensive documentation of the period. In 1916 he launched the Guarantee Photo Studio in Harlem. His business boomed during WWI, and the portraits he shot from this period until 1945 have demanded the majority of critical attention. Works by Van Der Zee are artistic as well as technically proficient. His work was in high demand, in part due to his experimentation and skill in double exposures and in retouching negatives of children. One theme that recurs in his photographs was the emergent black middle class, which he captured using traditional techniques in often idealistic images. He died in 1983 at the age of 96.

Credit:

Album / Science Source / New York Public Library

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Image size:

2877 x 3972 px | 32.7 MB

Print size:

24.4 x 33.6 cm | 9.6 x 13.2 in (300 dpi)

Keywords:

1886 • 1983 • 19TH CENTURY • 20 XX TWENTIETH CENTURY • 20TH CENTURY • 20TH • AFRICAN-AMERICAN • AMERICAN • BLACK MAN • BW • CELEBRITIES • CELEBRITY • CULTURAL MOVEMENT • EVENT • EVENTS • FAMOUS PEOPLE • FAMOUS • FIGURE • GREAT MIGRATION • GUARANTEE PHOTO STUDIO • HARLEM RENAISSANCE • HARLEM • HISTORIC • HISTORICAL • HISTORY • IMPORTANT • INFLUENTIAL • JAMES VAN DER ZEE • JAMES VANDERZEE • MALE • MAN • MEN • NEW NEGRO MOVEMENT • NEW YORK CITY • NOTABLE • NYC • PEOPLE • PERSON • PERSONALITIES • PERSONALITY • PHOTO • PHOTOGRAPH • PHOTOGRAPHER • PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER • SELF-PORTRAIT • SEPIA • TWENTIETH CENTURY • UNITED STATES • UPTOWN • US • USA • VAN DER ZEE • VANDERZEE • WELL-KNOWN