BHS Day 16: James Van Der Zee

The original goal for this Spotlight was to do half and half, with two painters and two fashion designers. But I thought why not mix it up a bit with the art and focus on another type for the second entry? Photography has been a hobby of mine for some time, and now that I blog, I have a legit reason to want to learn more about it so I can step up my game. I decided to focus on an unintentional pioneer of photography today, one who inadvertently inspired me last year when I was researching the Harlem Renaissance. On to the Spotlight!

Source

Name: James Van Der Zee, 1886-1983

Profession: Photographer

Why is the Spotlight on him today? For his photographic aesthetic and the legacy that he created from his style of photography, which depicted a different picture of life in Harlem for Blacks than what was originally there

Selected works:
James Van Der Zee Collection

Accomplishments:
--Shed a different perspective on life for Harlemites in the 1920s through his photographs
--Was honored with an exhibition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art
--Had a distinctive manner of image restoration for the time and this became a signature
--Was the official photographer for the UNIA, or the United Negro Improvement Association
--Photographed a number of celebrities throughout his career
--Became known for his inclusion of a subject's deceased loved ones in their photographs through his skill with image manipulations and edits
--Was a recipient of a Living Legacy Award from then-President Jimmy Carter
--Received an honorary doctorate from Howard University
--Has an exhibit at the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
--Was a recipient of the Pierre Toussaint Award
--Is often cited as the most prolific photographer of the Harlem Renaissance by helping to push the aura of glamour and perfection that was a signature mark of the era

Further reading links:
Scholastic | Biography | Encyclopedia

Today's Spotlight was a bit different in the sense that James Van Der Zee was just following his natural passion for photography; fame didn't find him until much later in his life. It is a shame that he was unable to find the recognition he deserved sooner. The good thing was that he left behind an amazingly large collection of such beautiful photography, much of which is now a solid part of Black History. I hope you enjoyed this post, I strongly encourage you to check out both the Further Reading links and the collection of his work, and I'll see you tomorrow!