James Augustus Joseph Van DerZee (1886–1983) was an African-American photographer celebrated for capturing the vibrancy and culture of Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Lenox, Massachusetts, as the second of six children, Van DerZee displayed an early talent for photography. At just 10 years old, he began practicing by photographing his family, classmates, and local residents, developing the images at home.

At 18, he moved to New York City, where he explored various pursuits, including music, playing and teaching the piano and violin. Photography, however, remained his passion. He gained professional experience working at a portrait studio in Newark, New Jersey, mastering techniques in posing and lighting. Returning to New York, he partnered with his sister in a combined photography studio and art conservatory before opening his own studio in Harlem.

Van DerZee’s artistic approach to backdrops, attention to detail, and ability to capture relaxed, natural poses made him a sought-after photographer. During the Harlem Renaissance, he documented both ordinary and prominent figures, including Joe Louis, Florence Mills, and Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. He served as the official photographer for Marcus Garvey's United Negro Improvement Association, creating an enduring visual archive of its activities.

In addition to photographing well-known individuals, Van DerZee captured the everyday life of Harlem’s vibrant community, photographing weddings, funerals, religious gatherings, social clubs, schools, and more. His work provides an invaluable record of the era’s social fabric.

Despite a decline in fortunes after 1935, Van DerZee preserved some 75,000 prints and negatives, a testament to his enduring dedication to his craft. Rediscovered in 1968, his work gained renewed recognition through the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s "Harlem on My Mind" exhibit. Achieving national and global acclaim in his eighties, Van DerZee’s legacy endures as a cornerstone of American cultural history.