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Carl Van Vechten

(1880-1964), Critic, novelist and photographer

Artist of 22 portraits
An American essayist and novelist of Peter Whiffle: His Life and Works (1922) and the controversial Nigger Heaven (1926), Van Vechten only took up photography in 1932, aged 51, aiming to portray all the leading creative talent of his era. He worked in a makeshift studio apartment with a Leica, using painted backdrops inspired by Matisse and took over 15,000 photographs between 1932 and 1964. A champion of African American culture and promoter of key players in the Harlem Renaissance, Van Vechten created an important visual record of the major cultural figures of his time.

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Edward McKnight Kauffer, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG P1125

Edward McKnight Kauffer

by Carl Van Vechten
vintage gelatin silver print, 27 May 1934
NPG P1125

Dame Rebecca West (Cicily Isabel Andrews (née Fairfield)), by Carl Van Vechten - NPG P1127

Dame Rebecca West (Cicily Isabel Andrews (née Fairfield))

by Carl Van Vechten
vintage gelatin silver print, 28 May 1934
NPG P1127

John Gielgud, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG P504

John Gielgud

by Carl Van Vechten
vintage print, 1936
NPG P504

Dame Myra Hess, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG P1124

Dame Myra Hess

by Carl Van Vechten
vintage gelatin silver print, 5 April 1937
NPG P1124

Laurence Olivier, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG P1126

Laurence Olivier

by Carl Van Vechten
vintage gelatin silver print, 17 June 1939
NPG P1126

Elisabeth Welch, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x131693

Elisabeth Welch

by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
NPG x131693

Elisabeth Welch, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x131694

Elisabeth Welch

by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
NPG x131694

Elisabeth Welch, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x131695

Elisabeth Welch

by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 14 January 1933
NPG x131695

Somerset Maugham, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x135982

Somerset Maugham

by Carl Van Vechten
cream-toned bromide print, 26 May 1934
NPG x135982

Sir Francis Rose, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x198242

Sir Francis Rose

by Carl Van Vechten
gelatin silver print, 12 May 1937
NPG x198242

Cecil Beaton, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x40474

Cecil Beaton

by Carl Van Vechten
vintage bromide print, late 1930s
NPG x40474

Cecil Beaton, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x40473

Cecil Beaton

by Carl Van Vechten
vintage bromide print, late 1930s
NPG x40473

Pandit Ram Gopal, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x199377

Pandit Ram Gopal

by Carl Van Vechten
bromide print, 21 April 1938
NPG x199377

Pandit Ram Gopal, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x199378

Pandit Ram Gopal

by Carl Van Vechten
bromide print, 21 April 1938
NPG x199378

Pandit Ram Gopal, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x199379

Pandit Ram Gopal

by Carl Van Vechten
bromide print, 21 April 1938
NPG x199379

Pandit Ram Gopal, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x199380

Pandit Ram Gopal

by Carl Van Vechten
bromide print, 21 April 1938
NPG x199380

Hugh Laing (né Hugh Skinner), by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x194432

Hugh Laing (né Hugh Skinner)

by Carl Van Vechten
bromide press print, circa 1940
NPG x194432

Hugh Laing (né Hugh Skinner), by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x194433

Hugh Laing (né Hugh Skinner)

by Carl Van Vechten
gelatin silver print, circa 1940
NPG x194433

Alicia Markova, by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x194438

Alicia Markova

by Carl Van Vechten
gelatin silver print, 1940s
NPG x194438

Alicia Markova as 'Camille', by Carl Van Vechten - NPG x194439

Alicia Markova as 'Camille'

by Carl Van Vechten
gelatin silver print, 22 October 1946
NPG x194439

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