EDWARD S. CURTIS

For over 40 years, my curated collections have presented the finest in photographic art, and among the most revered offerings are the timeless works of Edward S. Curtis. Though his immense contributions were once overlooked, Curtis is now celebrated as one of history's most profound photographers of Native American life. Born in 1868, his early passion for photography led him to establish a thriving studio in Seattle. It was in the Pacific Northwest, captivated by local Indigenous communities like Princess Angeline, daughter of Chief Sealth, that Curtis embarked on the mission that would define his legacy: to create an unparalleled visual record of North America's Indigenous cultures. These early, evocative images are foundational to his monumental career and form a crucial part of our historical photography archives. Curtis's magnum opus, "The North American Indian Project," consumed three decades of his life, resulting in over 40,000 photographs across more than eighty tribes. This monumental undertaking, once nearly forgotten, has been "rediscovered" and is now recognized as one of the most significant and artistically compelling ethnographic records ever created. They are a testament to enduring cultures, and a masterwork of early 20th-century photography. Explore this selection of these iconic historical prints and bring the profound legacy of Edward S. Curtis into your collection.