Gladys Bentley (August 12, 1907 – January 18, 1960) was a blues singer, known for her signature tuxedo and top hat, who performed gender-bending tunes as a star of the Harlem Renaissance.
Photograph of Gladys Bentley
- Description
- A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of entertainer Gladys Bentley. Bentley is depicted facing the viewer in bust pose. She is wearing a black top hat, dark bow tie, a white dress shirt, and black tuxedo suit jacket. Her top hat is perched slightly towards her proper right shoulder. The edges of the image are faded into an oval-shaped, white background. The print does not have any inscriptions, front or back.
- Data Source
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Photograph by
- Unidentified
- Subject of
- Gladys Bentley, American, 1907 - 1960
- Owned by
- Laura Cathrell, 1914 - 1999
- Date
- 1927-1945
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Medium
- silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
- Dimensions
- H x W (Image and sheet): 6 3/16 × 4 1/4 in. (15.7 × 10.8 cm)
- Type
- gelatin silver prints
- portraits
