Edward S. Curtis is arguably the most influential photographer of the American West. His work unquestionably ranks among that of the most important photographers of the 20th century.
Curtis was first and foremost; an extremely gifted and sophisticated artist whose work had the duality of being an incredible artistic creation at the same time as being a document of a people. He was uniquely able to create, out of whole cloth, a lasting vision of the American Indian that never existed before it was first seen through his photographic lens.
Edward Curtis produced images of the American Indian that convey a dignity, a universal humanity and a certain remaining majesty that transcend literally all other work ever done on the subject. In his photographs we see images that are uniquely able to stand alone in the world of photography.
Beginning in 1898 and continuing through 1928, Curtis dedicated his life to documenting the traditional lifeways and cultures of 128 American Indian tribes living west of the Mississippi River, from Alaska to the Mexican border.
Curtis was a genius of an artist possessed by a singular obsession to preserve the traditional lifeways of the American Indian.
Astonishingly, focusing all his immense talents over a staggering 30-year period, Curtis accomplished what he set out to do; he did save the traditional lifeways of these Native Peoples but at tremendous personal cost. It cost him his marriage, it cost him his health, and it cost him any possible financial stability he might ever have had.
In spite of all this, he persevered and left a body of work never to be equaled in the field of photography.
Find authentic Edward S. Curtis photography on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Bruce Kapson Gallery)
A Hopi Woman, 1905
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis A Hopi Woman 1905 Photogravure Print 22 x 18 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #411, The North American Indian, on Japa...
Photogravure
East Mesa Girls, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis East Mesa Girls, 1921 Photogravure Print 18 x 22 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #427, The North American Indian, on ...
Photogravure
Walpi Architecture, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Walpi Architecture 1921 Photogravure Print 18 x 22 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #421, The North American Indian, o...
Photogravure
The Piki Maker, 1906
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis The Piki Maker 1906 Photogravure Print 22 x 18 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #432, The North American Indian, o...
Photogravure
Cheyenne Sua-Dance Lodge
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 660 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Lucero - Santo Domingo
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 557 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Oksoyapiw - Blackfoot
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 639 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Tsaassi - Mis - Salla (Crow with Necklace) - Sarsi
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 618 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Wichita Grass House
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 654 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Soyaksin - Blood
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 651 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Moss for the Baby - Bags Cree
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 625 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Stsimaki (Reluctant - to - be - Woman) - Blood
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 650 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Kindling Fire - Assiniboin
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 631 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Apio-Mita(White Dog)-Blood
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 648 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Chaiwa - Tewa - Profile, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Chaiwa - Tewa - Profile 1921 Photogravure Print 22 x 18 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #415, The North American Indi...
Photogravure
Edward S. Curtis Rae Master Exhibition Platinum Print, 'End Of Day, ' 1904
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare vintage Edward S. Curtis Master Exhibition Platinum Print appearing on the distinctive Curtis Studio Seattle triple mount produced by Curtis only for exclusive display presentat...
Platinum
Looking Out To Sea, King Island, 1928
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Looking Out To Sea, King Island 1928 Hand Colored Volume Photogravure 12 x 9 inches Vintage small format rare Curtis Hand-Colored ...
Photogravure
A Gem Of Basketry - Southern Yokuts
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis A Gem Of Basketry - Southern Yokuts 1924 Hand Colored Photogravure 12 x 9 inches Vintage small format Curtis Volume Photogravure, Volume 13, The North American Ind...
Photogravure
Snake Dancers Entering The Plaza, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Snake Dancers Entering The Plaza 1921 Photogravure Print 18 x 22 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12...
Photogravure
Return With The Willows - Piegan, 1910
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Return With The Willows - Piegan 1910 Photogravure Print 9 x 12 inches Vintage small format Curtis Volume Photogravure, Volume 6, The North American Indian, on Japa...
Photogravure
Counting The Record, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Counting The Record 1921 Photogravure Print 18 x 22 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #413, The North American Indian, ...
Photogravure
John Abbott - Osage
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Photogravure - Plate 680 Comes with a gorgeous Burl Wood frame, images upon request.
Photogravure
Buffalo Dance At Hano, 1904
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Buffalo Dance At Hano 1904 Photogravure Print Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #401, The North ...
Photogravure
The Potter Mixing Clay, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis The Potter Mixing Clay 1921 Photogravure Print 18 x 22 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #419, The North American I...
Photogravure
Mishongnovi, 1900
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Mishongnovi 1900 Photogravure Print 18 x 22 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #435, The North American Indian, on Japan...
Photogravure
The Water Carriers, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis The Water Carriers 1921 Photogravure Print 18 x 22 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate ...
Photogravure
Flute Dancers At Tureva Springs, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Flute Dancers At Tureva Springs 1921 Photogravure Print 18 x 22 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #431, The North Ameri...
Photogravure
![Aged Pomo Woman [Plate 488]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/edward-curtis-photography-aged-pomo-woman-plate-488-for-sale/a_9323/1576623013042/Curtis_EDU0001_Aged_Pomo_Woman_Plate_488_artnet_master.jpg?width=240)
![Aged Pomo Woman [Plate 488]](https://a.1stdibscdn.com/edward-curtis-photography-aged-pomo-woman-plate-488-for-sale-picture-2/a_9323/a_54660221646945222708/Curtis_Old_Woman_framed_1200_master.jpg?width=240)
Aged Pomo Woman [Plate 488]
By Edward Curtis
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City.
Photogravure
$1,500
H 20 in W 16 in D 1 in
MAN RAY (1890-1976), MRS ROWELL, 1930 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
By Man Ray
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: MRS ROWELL Date Of Negative: 1930 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Date Of Print: 1934 1st Ed...
Photogravure
Canoe
By Sally Gall
Located in New York, NY
Sally Gall has spent her career exploring the intricacies of the natural world in delicate black-and-white photos of dew on spider webs, reflections on water, formal gardens, insects...
Photogravure
Untitled (Stooped Man with Bowl of Fruit)
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, dated, and numbered (5/6) in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 8 x 10 inches, image This artwork is offered b...
Photogravure
Robert Mapplethorpe
By Mark Beard
Located in New York, NY
Polaroid transfer on Rives BFK paper Signed, titled, dated, and numbered in pencil, recto Also blindstamped, l.r. 22 x 15 inches, sheet 10 x 8 inches, image This artwork is offered by CLAMP, located in New York City. Mark Beard writes: “I asked Robert Mapplethorpe to take me to the ‘Mine Shaft,’ a famous S&M club. He agreed but told me it was finished and boring. We made Christmas trees together for New York Magazine. He asked to make nude...
Photogravure
$1,500
H 20 in W 16 in D 1 in
MAN RAY (1890-1976), ABSTRACT RAYOGRAPHY, 1932 Photogravure, FIRST EDITION
By Man Ray
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Man Ray (American born, 1890 - 1976) Title: ABSTRACT RAYOGRAPHY Date Of Negative: 1932 Type Of Print: Authentic Vintage Sheet Fed Photogravure/Heliogravure. Date Of Print: 19...
Photogravure
$1,500
H 29.9 in W 22 in
Cuban Artist Original Hand Signed photoengraving 30x22 in. n1
By Juan Carlos Alom
Located in Miami, FL
Juan Carlos Alom (Cuba, 1964) 'Sólo tu cabes en la palma de mi mano', 2004 photoengraving on paper 30 x 22.1 in. (76 x 56 cm.) Edition of 106 ID: ALO1...
Photogravure
$24,500
H 40.25 in W 50 in
Nude women at Waterfall. Israel, Dead Sea , 15 Holy Land
By Spencer Tunick
Located in Miami, FL
C-Print Mounted Between Plexi - This work is devoid of any reference to man-made objects. This primal image depicts a stream of nourishing water that seems to have spouted a cluster of nubile human females from the earth Over 40 nude women assemble for a group portrait in the Holy Land This very large print...
Photographic Paper
Pond
By Sally Gall
Located in New York, NY
Sally Gall has spent her career exploring the intricacies of the natural world in delicate black-and-white photos of dew on spider webs, reflections on water, formal gardens, insects...
Photogravure
$2,500
H 40 in W 60 in
'Night Rider' Rainer W. Schlegelmilch Archive Limited Edition
By Rainer W. Schlegelmilch
Located in London, GB
'Night Rider' Rainer W. Schlegelmilch Archive Limited Edition Fantastic, fabulous and fantastical, many of the top car manufacturers like Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini etc launched concept cars...
C Print
$850
H 17.6 in W 13 in
French Contemporary Collotype Photograph Black White Photo Andre Naggar
By Andre Naggar
Located in Surfside, FL
Photos pictured of information cards after the images of the black and white photos are not included. La Chute D'Icare (The Fall of Icarus) is a original, black and white photograp...
Photogravure
$3,163
H 27.56 in W 19.69 in D 0.04 in
Wrapped Roman Wall - Photolithograph by Christo - 1974 ca.
By Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Located in Roma, IT
Wrapped Roman Wall is an original contemporary artwork realized by Christo. Black and white photolithograph. Hand signed on the lower left margin. Editio...
Photogravure
Maricopa Girl
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Maricopa Girl 1907 Vintage Photogravure Print 22 x 18 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 2, Pl...
Photogravure
A Modified Style Of Hair Dressing, 1921
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Modified Style Of Hair Dressing 1921 Photogravure Print 22 x 18 inches Vintage large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 12, Plate #428, The North Ameri...
Photogravure
Huklowapi Ceremony, 1907
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Huklowapi Ceremony 1907 Photogravure Print 22 x 18 inches Photogravure Print Vintage Large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 3, Plate #90, The North...
Photogravure
Canyon de Chelly - Navaho
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Canyon de Chelly, 1904 Goldtone Print An exceptional example of a vintage 11" x 14" Goldtone Print of Canyon de Chelly - Navaho, 190...
Glass
Piegan Dandy
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Edward S. Curtis Piegan Dandy, 1900 Photogravure Print Vintage Large format Curtis Portfolio Photogravure, Portfolio 6, Plate #208, The North American Indian, on Japan Vellum paper....
Photogravure
San Ildefonso Pottery, pl. 587
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Denton, TX
Printed plate number, Curtis's title, date, copyright, and photogravures by John Andrews and Son on recto. Known for his remarkable documentation of Native Americans in the early tw...
Photogravure
Tesuque Buffalo Dancers, pl. 600
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Denton, TX
Printed plate number, Curtis's title, date, copyright, and photogravures by John Andrews and Son on recto. Known for his remarkable documentation of Native Americans in the early tw...
Photogravure
Sold
H 19 in W 15.25 in D 0.1 in
The Sentinel - San Ildefonso, pl. 580
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Denton, TX
Printed plate number, Curtis's title, date, copyright, and photogravures by John Andrews & Son on recto. Known for his remarkable documentation of Native Americans in the early ...
Photogravure
Gathering Wokas - Klamath, pl. 460
By Edward S. Curtis, 1868-1952
Located in Denton, TX
Printed plate number, Curtis's title, date, copyright, and photogravures by John Andrews & Son on recto
Photogravure