Carl Van Vechten [Nelson Barclift]

Carl Van Vechten (June 17, 1880 – December 21, 1964), original, silver-print 8 x 10 inch photograph of American choreographer and dancer Nelson Barclift.

Verso features original Van Vechten photography credit ink stamping and unique roman numeral archive number. Printed on a heavy-weight matte fiber stock.

In very good condition aside from some very minor wear to edges.

Van Vechten, the celebrated American writer and photographer, was the literary executer of Gertrude Stein and a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance movement. He captured iconic images of all the key members in the worlds of Art, Theater, Music, and Literature. Van Vechten viewed his photography as a hobby; he never took commissions, he never sold photographs. He would grant permission to publish them, but had strict requirements to do so. He was a prominent fixture in 20th century photography collections with his work being included in such institutions as The Library of Congress, The Museum of The City of New York and The Smithsonian Institution.

Edgar Nelson Barclift (September 14, 1917 – March 11, 1993), American choreographer and dancer. As a member of the United States Army's Theatre Section during the Second World War, he was the co-choreographer and principal dancer of Irving Berlin's 'This is the Army (1942).' He choreographed the musical 'Around the World' (1946). He became the romantic partner of the composer and songwriter Cole Porter in the early 1940s.