Who painted Portfolio I, Plate 3: Desert Rovers-Apache?

Portfolio I, Plate 3: Desert Rovers-Apache was painted by Edward S. Curtis in 1903.

Where can I see Portfolio I, Plate 3: Desert Rovers-Apache?

Portfolio I, Plate 3: Desert Rovers-Apache is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

Portfolio I, Plate 3: Desert Rovers-Apache

Edward S. Curtis , 1903

Portfolio I, Plate 3: Desert Rovers-Apache is a work on paper by Edward S. Curtis. It dates from 1903 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created in 1903 by photographer Edward S.

Accession no.: 1995.203.21.3
Credit line: Presented by Mrs. James H. Hoyt, Elton Hoyt, II, and Mrs. Amasa Stone Mather in memory of James H. Hoyt

About this work

Overview

Created in 1903 by photographer Edward S. Curtis, this image forms part of his Portfolio I, Plate 3 series titled “Desert Rovers‑Apache.” The monochrome print is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and depicts a group of four mounted figures traversing an arid landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents four individuals on horseback moving in single file across a barren plain. They are dressed in long cloaks and carry loads on their backs, suggesting a nomadic or travel context. The title identifies the figures as Apache, linking the scene to the lived experience of the tribe’s desert mobility.

Technique & Style

Curtis employed early 20th‑century photographic processes that render the scene in stark, high‑contrast tones. The image lacks color, and the subjects’ faces are softened, creating a sense of anonymity. Dust raised by the horses’ hooves and the distant, pale sky emphasize the harsh, open environment.

History & Provenance

The photograph was produced during Curtis’s extensive documentation of Native American peoples. After its creation, it entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s holdings of early American photography.