Edward Sheriff Curtis

(American, 1862-1952)

Vanishing Race

orotone

signed Curtis (lower right)

11 x 14 inches

Property being sold to benefit the Mission and Vision of the Couse-Sharp Historic Site, Taos, New Mexico

Provenance:

Donated by The Rainbow Man, Santa Fe, New Mexico

By 1895, Seattle photographer Edward Curtis was the flavor of the month whenever anyone needed a portrait or a bride or debutante. But once he saw and photographed Princess Angeline, the last surviving daughter of Chief Seattle- for whom the growing, bustling city was named- his ambition took a turn. Curtis would spend thirty years living among and photographing Native Americans from Alaska to Mexico. It would cost him dearly, but his project, the monumental The North American Indian, remains unmatched in its sweep and beauty. The Vanishing Race is the most famous Curtis image. Mounted Natives move away from us, getting ever smaller, epitomizing the “Vanishing Race” myth that posited that Native Americans were, tragically but inevitably, doomed to vanish from the earth. Time has, of course, proven it a myth, yet it inspired and drove Curtis. This Vanishing Race is a goldtone, or orotone, a rare example of a process invented by Curtis, in which the lighter areas of the glass plate give off a softly reflective, golden hue.

-James D. Balestrieri

Appears in overall good condition. Eight faint points of discoloration and light scratching on verso, where frame points have rubbed. Several scuffs and losses visible from recto, focused around corners and edges. Unable to determine originality of frame- no stickers on verso, does not match any known original frames. Please request additional images. Framed dimensions: 14 3/4 x 17 1/2 inches

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Please email for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Katherine Hlavin

Consultant, Fine Art

[email protected]303.825.1855

Ms. Hlavin joined the firm in June 2017 as Director of Business Development, Western Region, at the Denver location and became a department specialist in 2020. Under her leadership, the Western Art sales in Denver established several sale records. Before joining the firm, she spent seven years working with galleries in Jackson Hole, Scottsdale and Denver. Most recently, she was Gallery Director of Visions West Contemporary in Denver and Jackson Hole. Prior to that, Ms. Hlavin was Director of American & Western Paintings at Altamira Fine Art.

Western Paintings and Sculpture including Contemporary Native American Art Session I

Vanishing Race

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