Provenance

Howard Greenberg

Explore selected works

See all 16 works of art
In this black-and-white photograph, three Black men are in front of a brick building with two tall windows. The man in the center is seated on a chair, his legs crossed. He is wearing a bright white suit with a light-colored tie, white shoes, and a wide-brimmed, light-colored hat. He looks out at us, his face in a neutral position. The chair he sits on is white, with some chipped areas. The man to the left is standing behind a wooden chair with chipped black paint, his hand on its back. He wears a black suit over a white shirt with a gray tie, and he holds a gray hat in his other hand. He has short black hair, and he looks out at us, his mouth is slightly downturned. The man on the right stands behind a gray folding chair. He wears a gray suit with a white shirt and a gray tie. One of his hands is behind his back, and the other holds a white hat at his side. He also has short black hair and looks out at us with his mouth slightly downturned. The ground below the men is gray, with some pieces of white debris. The bottom edge of the photograph appears to be damaged.
James Van Der Zee, Marcus Garvey with George O. Marke and Prince Kojo Tovalou-Houénou, 1924, gelatin silver print, Avalon Fund, 2019.127.6

Marcus Garvey with George O. Marke and Prince Kojo Tovalou-Houénou

James Van Der Zee · 1924 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2019.127.6

The image shows a woman lounging against a painted backdrop. She is lying partially reclined on her right side with her head turned towards the camera. She has distinct eyebrows and short, styled hair tucked beneath a polka-dotted headscarf. She wears a sleeveless dress, knee-length shorts, tall socks, and lace-up shoes. The studio backdrop depicts a nature scene with rocky outcrops and foliage. She appears to be sitting on a prop, surrounded by autumnal leaves on the surface beside her.
James Van Der Zee, Posing at the Beach, c. 1925, gelatin silver print, Avalon Fund, 2019.127.15

Posing at the Beach

James Van Der Zee · c. 1925 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2019.127.15

This is a photograph of the entrance to a restaurant named Capital Grill. The image captures a vintage street-level scene of a restaurant with a large display window and arched doorway leading inside. The window is filled with advertisements and signs, such as one promoting "Anheuser Busch on Draught" and another showcasing the "Capital Grill Restaurant" with "Wines & Liquors Served Here." The view through the window reveals the interior's bar display with various bottles and decorations. Above, the signage reads "Hello Bill - Welcome Elks," featuring an emblem of an elk. The entryway, adjacent to the window, exposes a view into the dining area, with tables covered in tablecloths, and chairs stacked neatly against them. The overall setting reflects a classic urban eatery, possibly from the early to mid-20th century, with its nostalgic architectural styling and promotional elements.
James Van Der Zee, Capital Grill Restaurant, c. 1940, gelatin silver print, Avalon Fund, 2019.127.12

Capital Grill Restaurant

James Van Der Zee · c. 1940 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2019.127.12

The image displays an aerial view of a dense urban landscape, showing rooftops of a city stretching towards the horizon. Smoke or mist rises from the middle of the frame, blending with the hazy atmosphere and distant skyline. The style is photographic, focusing on details of the cityscape with an emphasis on gritty textures. The color palette is monochrome, using shades of gray and black. Numerous buildings spread across the image, highlighting the city's vastness and density, with a single tower standing out in the distance.
Gordon Parks, Harlem Rooftops, 1948, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2017.68.1

Harlem Rooftops

Gordon Parks · 1948 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2017.68.1

James Van Der Zee, Harlem Store Front, 1934, gelatin silver print, Avalon Fund, 2019.127.9

Harlem Store Front

James Van Der Zee · 1934 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2019.127.9

James Van Der Zee, The Avenue Fish Market, 1938, gelatin silver print, Avalon Fund, 2019.127.5

The Avenue Fish Market

James Van Der Zee · 1938 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2019.127.5

The image depicts a woman playing the violin. She is standing between two columns, wearing a knee-length dress with colorful stripes. She has short, wavy hair, a headband, bracelets on her wrists, and two-tone shoes with straps. The background features intricate designs and draped curtains.
James Van Der Zee, Violinist, c. 1956, gelatin silver print with applied color, Avalon Fund, © James Van Der Zee Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019.127.3

Violinist

James Van Der Zee · c. 1956 · gelatin silver print with applied color ·  Accession ID  2019.127.3

The image shows four individuals, each depicted from head to foot. The group consists of three people standing and one seated in a chair. The seated woman at the center of the photograph wears a traditional black outfit and has her hands resting on her lap, with short hair that is tidily combed back. To her right stands a young man in a light-colored suit with a white shirt and tie, sporting a neat, short hairstyle. Next to him on the left, another young man is dressed in a dark traditional outfit, with his short hair neatly combed. On the right side of the seated woman, a woman stands wearing dark traditional clothing, with her hair also pulled back neatly. Each person is looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. The background features an abstract design with large circular shapes, contributing to a formal studio setting.
American 20th Century, James Van Der Zee, Portrait of a Family, c. 1940, gelatin silver print, Avalon Fund, 2019.127.2

Portrait of a Family

American 20th Century, James Van Der Zee · c. 1940 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2019.127.2

The photo features two individuals in a formal studio setting. The boy is standing to the left, and the girl is seated to his right. The boy wears a dark suit with a white shirt, a bow tie, and holds white gloves. The girl wears a white dress with puffed sleeves, a veil, and holds a bouquet of flowers. The backdrop includes a large potted plant, a curtain, and a painted scene of countryside hills.
James Van Der Zee, Mock Wedding, c. 1930, gelatin silver print, Avalon Fund, 2019.127.11

Mock Wedding

James Van Der Zee · c. 1930 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2019.127.11

The image shows an individual from the waist up, kneeling with their head slightly bowed. The person has short, textured hair and their facial features are subtle due to the soft focus of the image. They are wearing a white garment with wide sleeves and a darker-colored shawl around the neck. The individual is holding a book close to their chest. The background of the image features a mural with religious imagery. The foreground contains a table with flowers and a lit candle.
James Van Der Zee, Altar Boy, c. 1930, gelatin silver print, Avalon Fund, © James Van Der Zee Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2019.127.8

Altar Boy

James Van Der Zee · c. 1930 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2019.127.8