69

Edward S. Curtis

(1868 - 1952)

A Navaho Child, 1903

platinum print
In negative at lower left on print recto: X972
Copyright Info in the negative, lower left on print recto: COPYRIGHT 1903 BY E. S. CURTIS
Studio copyright sticker at lower left on mount verso
In black ink on mount verso: Navaho Child

Negative Date: 1903
Print Date: ca. 1903
Navaho, Southwest
Unpublished

This compelling portrait of a young Navaho child was made in 1903, at the beginning of Curtis' career. Curtis' platinum prints of children are very rare and this one is particularly evocative and direct. The child looks directly at the camera and is clothed in a simple blanket. It is believed that fewer than 1 in 500 Curtis platinum prints are of children. With its original mounts, this is an unusually desirable example. This print was included in the ground-breaking exhibition, "Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian", which traveled throughout Europe in the early 2000's. This print was created by hand in Curtis' Seattle studio, and may be unique.
7 9/16 x 5 9/16 in. (19.21 x 14.13 cm.), Double Mount: 8 1/4 x 6 1/16 in. (20.96 x 15.40 cm.)

  • Provenance: Edward Curtis Studio
    Private Collection(s)
    The Christopher G. Cardozo Collection, 1999
  • Exhibited:
    Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian (95 print exhibit), 2000
  • Condition: The print and vintage original mounts are in excellent condition overall. There is very faint, scattered surface rubbing, primarily at the margins and only visible in strong direct light. There is minor adhesive residue at the corners of the mount verso. The print recto is not affected.

    The condition reports for the lots offered by Santa Fe Art Auction (SFAA) are provided as a courtesy and convenience for potential buyers. The reports are not intended to nor do they substitute for physical examination by a buyer or the buyer's advisors. The condition reports are prepared by SFAA staff members who are not art conservators or restorers, nor do they possess the qualifications needed for comprehensive evaluation. Each condition report is an opinion of the staff member and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report does not imply anything as to the condition of a particular lot. Buyers are reminded that the limited warranties are set forth in the Terms and Conditions of Sale and do not extend to condition. Each lot is sold as-is.

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June 26, 2021 10:00 AM MDT
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