Photographed by James Van Der Zee in 1930, Portrait of a Young Woman captures the elegance, style, and individuality of a young Black woman during the cultural era surrounding the Harlem Renaissance. Dressed in white and holding flowers and a hat, she stands before Van Der Zee's camera with a carefully composed presence that turns a personal portrait into a record of Black life.

Van Der Zee became one of the most important photographers of twentieth-century Black America. Through his Harlem studio, he photographed families, couples, children, entertainers, community leaders, and everyday people, creating an extraordinary visual record of a Black community defining how it wanted to be seen. His camera also documented Marcus Garvey's UNIA, including its members, gatherings, and public life.

Portrait of a Young Woman represents the power of Black photography as preservation. Her name may not be carried in the title, but her image survived. Her fashion, her presence, and a moment of Black life in 1930 remain visible nearly a century later.

Presented as a high quality photographic reproduction on 260 g/m² paper with a partly glossy, partly matte finish. Finished in a .75 inch ayous wood frame with a protective Acrylite front and hanging hardware included.

The Bloodline Art Gallery
Preserving Black art. Bringing our history home.