Edward S. Curtis, The Vanishing Race; Silvertone ; Original Frame

ca. 1904

12 1/8" x 15 3/4" / 20" x 23" frame

For over thirty years, photographer Edward Curtis traveled the length and breadth of North America, seeking to record with images the traditional life of its vanishing indigenous inhabitants. No other photographer has created a larger oeuvre on the theme of Native Americans, and it is Curtis, more than any other, who has crucially molded our conception of Native Americans. In this rare, large silver tone print image, Curtis captures men on horseback traveling on a remote trail. Photographed from behind, the image does not reveal the identity of the figures, rather, it's simplicity and rugged scenery function as the contextual device. Curtis’ images vividly detail his journey through life and exploration of various American cultures.