How would you feel if your studio pictures ended up in a museum? That’s the case for people who walked into James Van Der Zee’s photo studio. Van Der Zee operated the successful Guarantee Photo Studio in the New York neighborhood of Harlem in 1917 with his second wife, Gaynella. Middle-class Americans would visit his shop to receive sophisticated, cosmopolitan, and empathetic portraits. Van Der Zee’s artistry is evident in his carefully considered compositions: from the backdrops, props, and skillful lighting to smaller details like hand-painting on gold and silver jewelry or musical notes added during printing. Van Der Zee’s studio became a popular Harlem institution, and he made thousands of studio portraits of Black families, in addition to photographing large public events, intimate family occasions like weddings and funerals, and storefronts and daily life in Harlem. Van Der Zee was a pioneer in capturing depictions of Black life and produced one of the most comprehensive documentations of the Harlem Renaissance. Today we have him to thank for a unique and rare glimpse of life from the period. Earlier this year, 12 of these special James Van Der Zee portraits joined Getty’s collections, and the @metmuseum along with the @studiomuseum acquired James Van Der Zee’s archive, ensuring that his trailblazing work is preserved for future generations. Visit our link in bio to see his work in our collections. Images: 1. Couple with Studio Spaniel Prop, 1936, James Van Der Zee. Gelatin silver print. Getty Museum. © 1969 Van Der Zee 2. Family Ties, 1950, James Van Der Zee. Gelatin silver print. Getty Museum. © 1969 Van Der Zee 3. Couple seated together, 1931, James Van Der Zee. Gelatin silver print. Getty Museum. © 1969 Van Der Zee 4. Radio Days, 1956, James Van Der Zee. Gelatin silver print. Getty Museum. © 1969 Van Der Zee 5. Larry Day, 1962, James Van Der Zee. Gelatin silver print. Getty Museum. © 1969 Van Der Zee