Little John 1934

"Little John" is a 1934 photograph by James Van Der Zee, a prominent photographer of the Harlem Renaissance. The image captures a young boy, dressed in a suit and patterned socks, standing with one leg raised. He is positioned in front of a painted dog, likely a backdrop used in Van Der Zee's studio. The photograph's composition and lighting create a sense of charm and informality, characteristic of Van Der Zee's work, which often documented the lives of African Americans in Harlem.