Who painted Portfolio II, Plates 40-75?

Portfolio II, Plates 40-75 was painted by Edward S. Curtis in 1905.

Where can I see Portfolio II, Plates 40-75?

Portfolio II, Plates 40-75 is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

Portfolio II, Plates 40-75

Edward S. Curtis , 1905

Portfolio II, Plates 40-75 is a work on paper by Edward S. Curtis. It dates from 1905 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1995.203.22
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

Nearby, a woven basket and a small pot rest on the ground, while the background fades into a soft, hazy landscape.

This photo shows a desert scene with tall saguaro cacti towering over brush. In the foreground, a person sits under one cactus, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a long skirt. Nearby, a woven basket and a small pot rest on the ground, while the background fades into a soft, hazy landscape.

The title says this is a "saguaro harvest," hinting at the cactus’s importance to the people who live there. The photo looks old and sepia-toned, like it was made a long time ago.

If you like this, check out Edward S. Curtis (American, 1868–1952) for more of his work.

Overview

Portfolio II, Plates 40-75 is a photographic portfolio by Edward S. Curtis, produced in 1905. It is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The portfolio's featured image depicts a desert landscape with prominent saguaro cacti. A figure, dressed in a wide-brimmed hat and long skirt, sits in the foreground, accompanied by a woven basket and a small pot. The scene is interpreted as a 'saguaro harvest,' highlighting the cactus's significance to the indigenous people of the region.

Technique & Style

The photograph exhibits a sepia-toned aesthetic, characteristic of early 20th-century photography. The composition contrasts the immediacy of the figure and objects in the foreground with a softly rendered, hazy background.

History & Provenance

Created in 1905 by Edward S. Curtis, the portfolio is now held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Context

Portfolio II, Plates 40-75 is part of Curtis's broader project documenting Native American life and environments. The work reflects the early 20th-century interest in capturing the lives of indigenous peoples through photography.