In this portrait series, I juxtapose archival portraits of Black New Yorkers from the 1940s and 1950s by celebrated mid‑20th‑century photographers: James Van Der Zee’s elegant Harlem studio portraits, Roy DeCarava’s intimate, high‑contrast street scenes, and Carl Van Vechten’s rich cultural documentation; with my contemporary reimaginings, by creating diptychs that bridge historical narratives with present-day expressions. Through carefully staged recreations adorned with modern fashion and symbolic elements, my work examines cultural continuity within the Black diaspora, highlighting the evolution and resilience of Black identity in New York City.
Drawing on Van Der Zee’s keen sense of style and composition, I echo his subjects' poised dignity in my sitters’ attire and posture. From DeCarava, I take inspiration in the play of light and shadow, evoking his poetic chiaroscuro to highlight the depth and resilience of the community today. And through Van Vechten’s lens, which so often captured the cultural ferment of Harlem’s artists and intellectuals, I weave in symbolic props and modern fashion elements that speak to ongoing conversations about creativity and self-expression.
Inspired by the enduring spirit captured in historical imagery, I explore themes of generational pride, identity formation, and cultural dialogue. My work intentionally dialogues with the past, utilizing visual parallels to reveal the deep-rooted traditions and ongoing transformations within Black communities.
*references listed below
1:
Unknown Photographer, The Negro American Magazine
Portrait of Miss Erma Sweatt, 1928
2:
Carl Van Vechten
Gloria Davy (Colorized), 1880-1964
3:
Carl Van Vechten
Bessie Smith, 1880-1964
4:
Carl Van Vechten
Bessie Smith, 1880-1964
5:
Carl Van Vechten
Leontyne Price, 1880-1964
6:
Carl Van Vechten
William Gardener Smith, 1880-1964