James Van Der Zee

Art Brokerage: James Van Der Zee American Artist: b. 1886-1983. BiornAmong the most renowned photographers of the Harlem Renaissance, James Van Der Zee immortalized the 1920s and '30s in Harlem. Van Der Zee depicted a wide swath of Black life in his images, from prominent figures like activist Marcus Garvey, singer Mamie Smith, and entertainer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson to ordinary members of the rising Black middle class. In 1969, Van Der Zee's photographs were included in the controversial exhibition "Harlem on my Mind: Cultural Capital of Black America, 1900-1968" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which introduced his work to a wider audience. Working out of his commercial photography studio on 135th Street, he became known for his soft-edged portraits that depicted his subjects with elegance and refinement. Listings wanted.