Photograph by
Van Der Zee, James, American, 1886 - 1983
Subject of
Unidentified Woman or Women
Date
1932
Medium
silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
Dimensions
H x W (sheet): 8 1/8 × 5 in. (20.6 × 12.7 cm)
H x W (image): 6 13/16 × 4 15/16 in. (17.3 × 12.5 cm)
Description
A toned gelatin silver print which features a woman in the center foreground of a studio portrait. She wears an elaborate feathered headdress, cape, and gilded corset. The corset has a low hanging fringe of metallic loops which extend past the proper waist and lay against the upper thighs. The woman also wears what appear to be voluminous harem pants. Her PR hand is placed on her PR hip while her PL hand is held aloft just behind her PL hip. The background behind her is a backdrop of a formal interior; a chair draped with a quilt features prominently in the bottom right corner of the foreground.
Place depicted
New York City, New York County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Photographs and Still Images
Movement
Harlem Renaissance (New Negro Movement)
Type
gelatin silver prints
portraits
Topic
Dance
Fashion
Photography
U.S. History, 1919-1933
Urban life
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2014.166.1
Restrictions & Rights
© James Van Der Zee Archive, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5a294e631-810c-4112-836e-06d9e8e4d93a

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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