Born in 1919, the photographer Roy DeCarava was a child of the Harlem Renaissance, a period that saw new life breathing through the neighborhood, and residents involved in all kinds of creativity—literary, musical, theatrical, visual. As a young man, DeCarava was drawn to textiles, painting, and design. But in his late 20s, after a stint making posters for the Works Progress Administration (WPA), he discovered the camera. Through its lens, he studied everyday life above 110th Street, capturing powerful moments in black and white. His photographs soon became emblematic of Harlem life. Zwirner presents DeCarava’s first London exhibition in 30 years. —E.C.