James Van Der Zee

James Van Der Zee
Van Der Zee in 1981
Born(1886-06-29)June 29, 1886
Lenox, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMay 15, 1983(1983-05-15) (aged 96)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Known forPortrait photography
MovementHarlem Renaissance
Spouses
  • Kate L. Brown
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1907; div. 1914)​
  • Gaynella Greenlee
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1918; died 1976)​
  • Donna Mussenden
    ​
    (m. 1978)​
Children2

James Augustus Van Der Zee (June 29, 1886 – May 15, 1983) was an American photographer best known for his portraits of black New Yorkers. He was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Aside from the artistic merits of his work, Van Der Zee produced the most comprehensive documentation of the period. Among his most famous subjects during this time were Marcus Garvey, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Countee Cullen.