Edward Curtis was on a mission.
From the late nineteenth to the early twentieth century, Curtis' mission was to photograph the American Indian in the West before their way of life disappeared. His 30-year effort resulted in some of the most haunting and beautiful photographs of the American West and its people that anyone had ever seen. If you ever get a chance to see a Curtis exhibit, do so. He lived an interesting life - born in poverty, becoming rich and famous, then dining in obscurity. You can read about it here -. His story is interesting, but his photographs are the real stars of his tale.You can read more about Edward Curtis below:
- A 2012 Smithsonian Magazine article about his quest
- The Official Edward Curtis Gallery
- The Edward Curtis Collection at the Library of Congress
- Northwestern University Edward Curtis Digital Collection
- A 2018 Cowboys and Indians article celebrating the 150 anniversary of his birth
Curtis is really a unique story and photographer. He gave up everything to pursue his dream. His images are hauntingly beautiful and hypnotically human at the same time. Take some time to go through his massive collection. Curtis doesn't disappoint.