130

Edward S. Curtis

(1868 - 1952)

The Vanishing Race - Navajo, 1904

orotone on glass (goldtone)
signed in negative at lower right: CURTIS
original The Vanishing Race studio sticker on verso
in original period 'bat-wing' style frame
negative date: 1904
print date: ca. 1904
Navajo, Southwest
7 3/8 x 9 3/8 in. (18.7 x 24.7 cm.), frame: 11 1/2 x 13 1/2 in. (29.2 x 34.3 cm.)

  • Provenance: Edward Curtis studio, Seattle
    Private Collector(s)
    Sharp's Curio Shop, Livingston, Montana
    Private Collection, Montana
  • Literature:
    The North American Indian (1907-1930), Portfolio 1, pl. 1
    Native Nations, Bulfinch Press publisher, 1993, p. 123
    Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian, Simon & Schuster publisher, 2000, p. 188
    Edward S. Curtis: The Great Warriors, Bulfinch Press publisher, 2004, p. 7
    The North American Indian Republication Custom Edition, Christopher Cardozo Fine Art, 2014, Portfolio Volume 1, pl. 1
    Edward S. Curtis One Hundred Masterworks, Delmonico Books/Prestel Publishing, 2015, p. 91, 166
    The North American Indian Republication Reference Edition, Christopher Cardozo Fine Art, 2017, Portfolio Volume 1, pl. 1

    By far Curtis' most popular image, The Vanishing Race became the signature image and a powerful visual metaphor for the central concept behind his thirty-year project: the belief that Native American cultures were vanishing. The image embodies his larger mission to document and preserve Indigenous traditions, lifestyles, and histories before they were lost. He spent nearly four years searching for the perfect image to capture this idea, which he finally achieved with The Vanishing Race. While contemporary perspectives acknowledge the resilience and survival of Native American cultures, the image remains a striking interpretation of early 20th-century views on the fate of Indigenous peoples.

    This print is an excellent example of this image printed in the rare goldtone process. Presenting a full tonal range and set into the original batwing style frame with the original studio sticker on the verso, this will make a fine addition to an enthusiast's collection.
  • Condition: This goldtone is in good to very good condition overall.
    There are spots of gold-backing loss at the upper and right margins, visible upon close inspection.
    There is a small scratch to the backing at the upper, center margin.
    The frame is in very good condition overall.
    There is some finish loss at the rabbet edges.
    There are typical, minor scattered nicks, particularly at the corners.


    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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