An Old Man of Waiyám
Edward S. Curtis; John Andrew & Son, Boston
Description
Subject Matter:
This image of a man from the Yakima tribe—now known as Yakama—is from The North American Indian (1907 - 1930), a twenty-volume series created by Edward Curtis in order to document the lives of Native Americans in diverse regions of the Western United States. This limited edition volume was financially supported by J.P. Morgan, and promoted by Theodore Roosevelt. The resulting works have been criticized and celebrated for their portrayal of Native American life. Curtis often included anachronous props and clothing and presented rituals that had not been performed in years in order to support an idealized and romantic reading of a “vanishing race.”
Physical Description:
A photograph of an aged man sitting and looking straight into the camera. He holds a large feather in his lap, his costume adorned with embroidery. He wears a large feather headdress on his head. He appears to be sitting in an enclosed area, with patterned cloths on the floor and hanging around him.
Usage Rights:
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