About this Item
Large format goldtone paper print. Image measures approximately 11 x 15 inches. Single weight paper print mounted on a stiff mat board that measures 16 x 20 inches. Curtis signature is visible in the negative, copyright 1900, number 73. Near fine condition with minor wrinkling and light scratching. Image has a rich russet sepia tone and very sharp resolution. The provenance of this photograph is the Edward S. Curtis Gallery in McCloud, California. Edward Curtis (1868-1952) was an acclaimed photographer and ethnologist who undertook one of the most ambitious anthropological projects ever attempted. After participating in the 1899 Harriman expedition to Alaska, Curtis came up with his "Great Idea": to record the traditional culture and lifestyle of North America s indigenous inhabitants before those old ways disappeared. Between 1900 and 1930, Curtis traveled the continent and produced a 20-volume set of books that document the stories, languages, and rituals of over 80 tribes. The project received funding from J. P. Morgan, and was supported by luminaries such as President Theodore Roosevelt, but it took a massive toll on Curtis health, finances, and home life. Many consider The North American Indian a singular achievement, a publishing masterpiece, and an invaluable historical resource. However, Curtis has also been criticized for staging his subjects and manipulating certain photos, resulting in a romanticized view of North America s native peoples. It remains open for debate the exact mixture of art and documentation in Curtis images, but the emotional impact of his best work is undeniable. As N. Scott Momaday wrote in Sacred Legacy, "Never before have we seen the Indians of North America so close to the origins of their humanity, their sense of themselves in the world, their innate dignity and self-possession. " This half-length portrait depicts a Piegan man wearing a split horn headdress adorned with ermine fur. It appears the image was not published in The North American Indian. The image is included in the Library of Congress Curtis Collection (Lot 12331). According to expert Christopher Cardozo, "Curtis goldtone paper prints are extremely rare and were produced principally in 1899 and 1900." Furthermore, this particular image is exceedingly rare in this format with no auction records found as of November, 2023.
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