James Van Der Zee: Chronicler of Harlem’s Golden Age James Van Der Zee (1886-1983) occupies a singular place in the annals of African American art history, primarily recognized for his unparalleled documentation of the Harlem Renaissance—a vibrant cultural movement that blossomed between 1920 and 1930. More than mere visual records, his photographs transcend aesthetics; they offer an invaluable window into the daily realities, aspirat…