id: 158849 accession number: 1995.203.37.27 share license status: Copyrighted url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1995.203.37.27 updated: 2024-03-26 02:00:27.258000 The North American Indian: being a series of Portfolios picturing and describing the Indians of the United States, the Dominion of Canada, and Alaska: Portfolio XVII, Plate 606: Grinding Medicine - Zuñi, 1925. Edward S. Curtis (American, 1868–1952), The University Press. Photogravure; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Presented by Mrs. James H. Hoyt, Elton Hoyt, II, and Mrs. Amasa Stone Mather in memory of James H. Hoyt 1995.203.37.27 title: Portfolio XVII, Plate 606: Grinding Medicine - Zuñi title in original language: series: The North American Indian: being a series of Portfolios picturing and describing the Indians of the United States, the Dominion of Canada, and Alaska series in original language: creation date: 1925 creation date earliest: 1925 creation date latest: 1925 current location: creditline: Presented by Mrs. James H. Hoyt, Elton Hoyt, II, and Mrs. Amasa Stone Mather in memory of James H. Hoyt copyright: --- culture: America, 20th century technique: photogravure department: Photography collection: PH - Photogravure type: Portfolio find spot: catalogue raisonne: --- CREATORS * Edward S. Curtis (American, 1868–1952) - artist Edward S. Curtis American, 1868 - 1952 Edward Sheriff Curtis, born near White Water, Wisconsin, was a well-established commercial photographer before he undertook his best known work shortly before the turn of the century. Working first as photographer for the Edward H. Harriman expedition in Alaska (1899), he later secured the endorsement of Theodore Roosevelt and the support of J. P. Morgan for an extensive anthropological and photographic study of Native Americans. Curtis's work from 1906 -- 20 resulted in The North American Indian and eventually generated 40,000 negatives, of which 1,200 were presented in gravure form in the 20 volumes and 20 accompanying portfolios of his study. Although his intentions were anthropological and scholarl -- to preserve the appearance and customs of a dying race -- Curtis nevertheless was affected by the artistic styles of his time. His portraits and tableaux were often strongly pictorialist, as their presentation on imported papers and in rarefied media such as orotone would suggest. His scientific aims were frequently undercut by a personal interpretation of his subjects, to whom he often supplied costumes and props. Time has proved Curtis, in this era of his career, equally an artist and an anthropologist. His later work in Los Angeles, which deserves further study, focused on Hollywood and the world of movies. T.W.F. * The University Press - published by --- measurements: state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE --- fun fact: digital description: wall description: --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES