10.28.23 The Shadow Catcher

“The Shadow Catcher”
Edward S. Curtis

By Rebekah Powers | October 2023

Chimayo Trading has acquired the highly desirable Portfolio #17 from the North American Indian Project, a collection of historic vintage photographs, descriptions and insights into early Native American life which we are offering for sale. Printed with great fidelity on tissue, the sepia photography was the life’s work of Edward S. Curtis, fondly known by his subjects as the “Shadow Catcher”.

Edward S. Curtis was born on February 16, 1868, near Whitewater, Wisconsin and he developed a passion for photography from a young age.

Curtis’s most significant and influential work was “The North American Indian” project, which he embarked upon in 1900 and pursued for over 30 years. His goal was to create a comprehensive record of the disappearing cultures and traditions of Native American tribes across the United States. Through photographs, writings, and recordings of songs and languages, his work was a precursor to the field of visual anthropology and he became a pioneer. Photogravure portfolios were created, grouping individual portraits to accompany volumes of text and images that Curtis compiled.

Dedicating a substantial portion of his life to the North American Indian project, he immersed himself in the project, traveled extensively, sometimes living among the tribes he photographed. He even made an effort to learn Native American languages to establish better communication with his subjects. During one of his expeditions, he was captured and held at gunpoint by the Apsaroke (Crow) tribe until his identity was confirmed. However, his dedication took a toll on his personal life, straining relationships and leading to financial instability. But later, it would be this project that would define him as an artist and researcher, as well as help to discover the ways of the Puebloan cultures in New Mexico and beyond.

“The North American Indian” project resulted in an extensive record of over 40,000 photographs, prolific text, and numerous audio recordings. Curtis aimed to challenge prevailing stereotypes and misconceptions about Native Americans, offering a nuanced portrayal of their cultures. His work remains an invaluable resource for historical and cultural understanding.

Curtis’s artistic style and sepia images became his signature. The soft golden sepia tone evoked a romanticized and timeless quality, instilling a sense of nostalgia and connection to the past. Organized into individual portfolios, Curtis immortalized and canonized history with his camera.

Chimayo Trading has acquired Portfolio #17, printed with great clarity on tissue paper, the most faithful of all the substrates. This is a precious find for the right collector. Some of the most interesting insights into Pueblo life and people can be gleaned from this collection of photos. In this grouping, #581 is a beautifully clear portrait in sepia of a San Ildefonso girl named “Flower Morning” (Povi-tamu) who is balancing a pot on her head that is typical of the pottery used every day to carry water. She would have ladled water with a hollow gourd. The vessel rested on a woven ring on her head to steady the post and protect the scalp. The decoration on the pottery itself in the image speaks to the enduring importance of the serpent in Tewa life.

#592 is a cinematic image of a San Ildefonso man in an early morning ceremony: an “offering to the sun”. One of the most indelible images of any Curtis photograph, it represents the spiritual significance of the sun, giver of light and life and how spiritual practice was part of every day. Another significant photo #606 features a Zuni Medicine Man, one of the most important people in the tribe, who is grinding medicine in a small stone mortar with a water worn smooth pebble.

The Curtis Portfolio #17 also includes a handsome portrait of the Zuni Governor, #607 whose regular features give him a regal air and represent the general Pueblo physiognomy of the time. Taken together, the collection of these photos of daily life span San Ildefonso, Zuni, San Juan and Santa Clara Pueblos, gems of history, preserved on tissue for the most faithful reproductions of Native Americans available at this precious time of discovery in the history of the Americas.

Have your own direct experience of the “Shadow Catcher” from the historic Edward S. Curtis collection, Portfolio #17, along with much more.

Come to the gallery to see where History Meets Art in Taos..

#1 Saint Francis Church Plaza
Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557

575.758.0504

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Contact us directly to discuss and evaluate your collection. If you’re an artist, contact us about the possibility of selling your art on consignment or direct wholesale purchase.

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