Portrait of a Girl 1924

This is James Van Der Zee’s "Portrait of a Girl," a photograph. The girl stands front and center, her gaze holding you, daring you to look away. It’s such a constructed scene. Van Der Zee coaxes a whole world out of sepia tones. The hand-painted flowers, the toy peeking from the side – it's all so carefully orchestrated to make this moment permanent. And look at the little details: the way the light hits the fur trim of her coat, the almost too-perfect rose pinned to her lapel. It’s like he’s building layer upon layer, each one adding to this sense of poised, precious childhood. I wonder, was this a regular occurrence, or a one-off event? I imagine Van Der Zee meticulously arranging the set, coaxing a smile, chasing a fleeting moment. The clarity makes me think of other portrait photographers, like August Sander, but there’s also something very personal and intimate about Van Der Zee’s work.