132

Edward S. Curtis

(1868 - 1952)

The Three Chiefs - Piegan, 1900

platinum
in negative lower left: Curtis Copyright 1900 52
signed lower right: Curtis
titled verso: The Three Chiefs - Piegan
negative date: 1900
print date: 1900
Piegan, Great Plains
11 3/4 x 15 1/2 in. (29.8 x 39.4 cm.), frame: 19 3/4 x 23 1/2 x 1 in. (50.2 x 59.7 x 2.5 cm.)

  • Provenance: Private Collection, Colorado
  • Literature:
    The North American Indian (1907 - 1930), Supplemental Portfolio 6, pl. 209

    Showing three Piegan leaders wearing traditional regalia, sitting astride their horses beneath a sweeping sky, their forms reflected in the Two Medicine River, this image is often cited as the most historically significant of Edward Curtis' 40-50,000 photographs. Taken during the summer of 1900, this image marks a pivotal moment in Curtis' life. It was on this brief field trip to Montana, alongside renowned ethnographer George Bird Grinnell, that Curtis first encountered Native Americans whose culture remained largely intact and who were also willing to share their religion, mythology, and personal lives with him. This two-week, transformative experience ignited Curtis' passion to create a comprehensive record of Native American life, forever altering the course of his life.
  • Condition: This print is in good condition overall.
    There is an area of water damage along the right margin edge that has been retouched/restored using watercolor pigments, and scattered spots along the bottom margin edge, visible upon close inspection.
    The original, brown paper mount is present, trimmed to the size of the print.
    This print has been examined outside of the frame.


    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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November 8, 2024 1:00 PM MST
Santa Fe, NM, US

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