James Van Der Zee, Self-Portrait, photograph, 1918
Born on June 29, 1886, in Lenox, Massachusetts, James Van Der Zee developed a passion for photography as a youth, and opened up his own Harlem studio in 1916. Van Der Zee became known for his detailed imagery of African-American life, and for capturing celebrities such as Florence Mills and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Following hard financial times, Van Der Zee enjoyed a resurge in his career during his later years. He died in 1983 in Washington, D.C.
Couple in Raccoon Coats, 1932
Future Expectations, 1925
Harlem Renaissance photographer James Van Der Zee is celebrated for his pioneering, glamorous portraits of the emergent African-American middle-class during the ’20s and ’30s. He also captured the thriving celebrity, arts, and music culture of the time. Through the use of ghostly double exposures, the artist portrayed deceased family members or imaginary figures (suggesting the future children of a happily married couple, for example) in his photos. The influence of his unique retouching techniques and sensitive, poetic approach has been frequently understated.
Work Cited:
James Van Der Zee. (2015). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 12:25, Feb 01, 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/james-van-der-zee-9515411.
James Van Der Zee. (2015). The flavorwire.com website. Retrived 12:30, Feb 01,2015, from http://flavorwire.com/475131/10-essential-african-american-photographers
James Van Der Zee. (2015). The flavorwire.com website. Retrived 12:30, Feb 01,2015, from http://flavorwire.com/475131/10-essential-african-american-photographers
Van Der Zee, James. Self Portrait. 1918. Museum/Collection Name, City. Art History 497 C Survey of African-American Art. Photograph. 02/01/15. https://www.courses.psu.edu/arth/arth497c_jhr11/hrenphotos.html
Van Der Zee, James. Couple in Raccoon Coats. 1932. Van Der Zee, Donna Collection, Unknown. Exploded Essay. Photograph. 02/01/15. http://www.fgcu.edu/hum2510/manuscript/picexp1.html
Van Der Zee, James. Future Expectations. 1925. Encyclopedia Britannica. Photograph. 02/01/15.
