Skip to main content

Wishham Girls

Edward S. Curtis; John Andrew & Son, Boston

Artwork Details

Wishham Girls
1909
Edward S. Curtis; John Andrew & Son, Boston
photogravure on paper
9 3/16 x 12 in. (23.34 x 30.48 cm); ; ; ;
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas M. Kenyon
1987/1.208

Description

Subject Matter:

This image of two young girls from Wishham tribe—now known as Wishram—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 two young girls riding horses through a rocky landscape. The girls and horses wear clothing made of fabric, adorned with beadwork and embroidery. 

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.