Edward S. CurtisEdward S. Curtis

By Emory LewmanBy Emory Lewman

Edward S. CurtisEdward S. CurtisHe was born He was born

February 16, 1868-February 16, 1868-19521952

Born in Whitewater, Born in Whitewater, WisconsinWisconsin

His father was a His father was a ministerminister

Early LifeEarly Life

Edward had early aspirations of becoming Edward had early aspirations of becoming a photographera photographer

- He dropped out of school in middle - He dropped out of school in middle school and soon built his own cameraschool and soon built his own camera

At the age of 17 he became a apprentice At the age of 17 he became a apprentice He had 4 childrenHe had 4 childrenAnd his first portrait was of Kicksomolo, a And his first portrait was of Kicksomolo, a

native American princessnative American princess

Later LifeLater Life

Curtis was asked to ake a picture of an Curtis was asked to ake a picture of an Indian princess and his photograph was Indian princess and his photograph was liked so much by historians they asked liked so much by historians they asked him to document Indians with themhim to document Indians with them

After years of his work he went through a After years of his work he went through a brutal divorce with his wife where she took brutal divorce with his wife where she took all his printsall his prints

He became so poor that he had to sell his He became so poor that he had to sell his rights to his films to his own sonrights to his films to his own son

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments• Curtis is best known for his photo-Curtis is best known for his photo-

documentation of Amerindians documentation of Amerindians -But often he depicted their culture and -But often he depicted their culture and

artifacts wrongly as propsartifacts wrongly as props

• He was attempting to preserve the He was attempting to preserve the vanishing culture and life style of vanishing culture and life style of native Americansnative Americans

• In 1914 Curtis even made a feature In 1914 Curtis even made a feature film In the Land of Head Hunters, film In the Land of Head Hunters, based on the North west Coast based on the North west Coast tribe, the Kwakiatl tribe, the Kwakiatl

Edward S. Curtis’s InspirationEdward S. Curtis’s Inspiration

Curtis was interested in photography at an early Curtis was interested in photography at an early ageage

He dropped out of school in 6He dropped out of school in 6 thth grade to make grade to make his own camerahis own camera

He quickly became an apprentice, this was at He quickly became an apprentice, this was at age 18age 18

He served as an apprentice in St. Paul, He served as an apprentice in St. Paul, Minnesota Minnesota

He soon became a partner in an existing He soon became a partner in an existing photographic studio with Rasmus Rothi photographic studio with Rasmus Rothi

InspirationInspiration

Curtis was intrigued by the disappearing Curtis was intrigued by the disappearing culture of the American Indians and he culture of the American Indians and he attempted to capture all of it attempted to capture all of it

Curtis said he wanted "to form a Curtis said he wanted "to form a comprehensive and permanent record of comprehensive and permanent record of all the important tribes of the United States all the important tribes of the United States and Alaska that still retain to a and Alaska that still retain to a considerable degree their...customs and considerable degree their...customs and traditions." traditions."

InspirationInspiration

He worked mostly alone as he traveled He worked mostly alone as he traveled through out North America documenting through out North America documenting their livestheir lives

He successfully recorded their life but he He successfully recorded their life but he sometimes portrayed the Indians in a sometimes portrayed the Indians in a stereotypical waystereotypical way

The artist Curtis was an apprentice to The artist Curtis was an apprentice to really inspired himreally inspired him

Published in 1907Published in 1907Quilcene BoyQuilcene Boy

Canyon de ChellyCanyon de Chelly

Description of Canyon de ChellyDescription of Canyon de Chelly

7 American Indians on horse back are 7 American Indians on horse back are traveling across the open land.traveling across the open land.

The Indians appear very small in The Indians appear very small in comparison to the gigantic canyon cliffs. comparison to the gigantic canyon cliffs.

They travel across open untouched landThey travel across open untouched land

Analysis of Canyon de ChelleyAnalysis of Canyon de Chelley

In this photo the element of space and In this photo the element of space and repetition is usedrepetition is used

- The same 7 figures are repeated through The same 7 figures are repeated through the picturethe picture

And contrast of the tiny figures to the And contrast of the tiny figures to the canyoncanyon

Interpretation of Canyon de ChellyInterpretation of Canyon de Chelly

In this picture Curtis is trying to convey the In this picture Curtis is trying to convey the vanishing culture of the Native Americansvanishing culture of the Native Americans

As they walk through the barren canyon it As they walk through the barren canyon it reflects their disappearance and withering reflects their disappearance and withering life style life style

And their lonely silhouettes send the And their lonely silhouettes send the viewer back to the days when the Indians viewer back to the days when the Indians lived alone on the American soil lived alone on the American soil

Judgment of Canyon de ChellyJudgment of Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly is one of my favorite Canyon de Chelly is one of my favorite photos that Curtis took. photos that Curtis took.

The picture is beautiful yet bitter, it The picture is beautiful yet bitter, it reminds me of how beautiful the earth was reminds me of how beautiful the earth was untouched by civilization untouched by civilization

I find this to be one of his most moving I find this to be one of his most moving photosphotos

Hopi, Watching the DancersHopi, Watching the Dancers

American Arizona, American Arizona, 19061906

Gelatin Silver PrintGelatin Silver Print7 3/4 x 5 13/16 in 7 3/4 x 5 13/16 in

The Eclipse DanceThe Eclipse Dance

American, 1910 – American, 1910 – 19141914

Gelatin silver print Gelatin silver print 5 9/16 x 8 in.5 9/16 x 8 in.

1924 1924 Hupa Hupa

Mother Mother and Childand Child

Family Group-NoatakFamily Group-Noatak19301930

QuestionQuestion

Where was Curtis born?Where was Curtis born?

a)a) LondonLondon

b)b) FranceFrance

c)c) WisconsinWisconsin

QuestionsQuestions

How did his Indian photographing career How did his Indian photographing career start?start?

a)a) He had an Indian step sisterHe had an Indian step sister

b)b) He photographed an indian princessHe photographed an indian princess

c)c) He actually took pictures of bugs He actually took pictures of bugs

QuestionQuestion

True or False, Curtis lived his whole life True or False, Curtis lived his whole life happily married?happily married?

a)a) TrueTrue

b)b) FalseFalse

Bibliography Bibliography http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/

wikipedia/commons/e/ee/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Edward_S._Curtis_Collection_People_004.jpg&imgrefurl=http://Edward_S._Curtis_Collection_People_004.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edward_S._Curtis_Collection_People_004.jpg&usg=__jPZt0aGFile:Edward_S._Curtis_Collection_People_004.jpg&usg=__jPZt0aGZf7qO0hCMqaAFGbIccOk=&h=868&w=676&sz=182&hl=en&start=4Zf7qO0hCMqaAFGbIccOk=&h=868&w=676&sz=182&hl=en&start=48&sig2=juOhePDT3jidpUPzfnYvww&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=8&sig2=juOhePDT3jidpUPzfnYvww&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=uWz0j_0QlfokCM:&tbnh=145&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3FquWz0j_0QlfokCM:&tbnh=145&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dedward%2Bs.%2Bcurtis%2Bphotographs%26start%3Dedward%2Bs.%2Bcurtis%2Bphotographs%26start%3D40%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%3D40%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=6C9ATYimA4rWgQf338n1Ag%3Disch:1&ei=6C9ATYimA4rWgQf338n1Ag

http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artMakerDetails?maker=1814http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artMakerDetails?maker=1814

http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Curtis/curtis-intro-3.htm http://www.sil.si.edu/Exhibitions/Curtis/curtis-intro-3.htm