VanDerZee, James (1886–1983)

US photographer. He opened his own studio in Harlem in 1916. On the upper end of Manhattan, Harlem was becoming a haven for African-Americans and during the next five decades he photographed African-Americans of all social classes and occupations. He took mostly indoor portraits, but occasionally went out and photographed the Harlem scene. Although he photographed many of the African-American celebrities who passed through Harlem, most of his work was of the straightforward commercial studio variety.

VanDerZee was born in Lenox, Massachusetts. After attending the public schools in Lenox, he went to New York in about 1906 and held a series of jobs as a waiter and elevator operator. Between 1909 and 1915, he played in Fletcher Henderson's band and in an orchestra that accompanied silent movies. Attracted to photography, he got a job as a darkroom assistant, where he learned his trade.

He often supplied props or costumes and in his developing – which he did himself – he would add pictorial touches with an air brush or double-printed images. Forgotten for many years, he had retired and was reduced to poverty when in 1969 the Metropolitan Museum of Art mounted an exhibit called Harlem on My Mind that brought him and his work renewed attention and rewards. He took up photography again in 1980 until his death.