42

Edward S. Curtis

(1868 - 1952)

Kwakiutl House Frame, 1914

photogravure on Holland Van Gelder, proof print
Curtis took this photograph from the unusual perspective of standing inside the house frame and looking out toward the water, the source of the Kwakiutls' sustenance. Struck by the careful craftsmanship of the ceiling beams and uprights, he noted that "the longitudinal and circular flutes of the columns are laboriously produced by means of a small hand-adze of primitive form." Curtis used the anglicized spelling "Kwakiutl" to refer collectively to several groups of coastal Northwest Indians who shared the same language. He used the native spelling "Qagyuhl" to designate a group living at Fort Rupert, British Columbia.

This unique print, referred to as a proof print, was produced as an intermediary step in the creation of a finished photogravure. It was printed to aid Curtis in exploring, evaluating, and determining what the final state of a finished print would be, such as the dimensions, contrast, tonality, and other aesthetic considerations. 
 
Photogravure is a complicated and exacting process that involves acid-etching an image onto a copper plate, which is then coated with ink and run through a press in contact with a sheet of paper. Curtis' finished photogravures include text that was hand-cut into each copper plate. The proofing process was integral to making sure that the plate rendered the image properly, before hand-cutting the text into the copper plate. Therefore, all of Curtis' photogravure proof prints do not include the text that is included in a finished photogravure. 

This proof print is exceptionally rare in that is was done on a full sheet of Van Gelder paper, which may indicate that it was the last proof made before hand-cutting the text into the plate.
 
Curtis' proof prints possess an unusual directness and intensity, and they can provide us with clues to Curtis's aesthetic or to the processes he employed. Collectors have become more interested in these prints because of these qualities. In addition, they sometimes include notes indicating an adjustment that is needed on an image. 
 
Because proof prints were created for utilitarian purposes, and not intended to be preserved, they are relatively rare from a collecting perspective. 

Dutch Van Gelder Paper
This original vintage photogravure is printed on a fine Dutch Van Gelder etching stock, handmade in Holland one hundred years ago. This is an expensive, heavyweight, etching stock selected by Curtis and J.P. Morgan specifically for Curtis' North American Indian project.
sheet: 18 x 22 in. (45.7 x 55.9 cm.); frame: 25 1/2 x 29.6 x 1 3/4 in. (64.8 x 75.4 x 4.4 cm.)

  • Provenance: The Christopher G. Cardozo Collection

    Publication History - Image:
    The North American Indian (1907-1930), Portfolio 10, Plate #343
  • Condition: This print is in good condition overall.
    There scattered, minor handling creases in the margins of the sheet, which is typical of Curtis' proof prints, primarily visible in raking light. (The image area 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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