James Van Der Zee

James Van Der Zee (June 29, 1886 – May 15, 1983), an African-American photographer best known for his portraits of black New Yorkers, was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Van Der Zee opened his photography studio in Harlem on 135th Street in 1918, chronicling the arts and music scenes and everyday life. Quickly Van Der Zee became the most successful portraitist in Harlem and continued to capture the lives of black New Yorkers for decades.