Open full image Pin

Portfolio IX, Plate 313: The Mussel Gatherer

Edward S. Curtis

1900

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Early Modern

Dominant colour

Portfolio IX, Plate 313: The Mussel Gatherer is a 1900 by Edward S. Curtis, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Edward S. Curtis
When & what style?: 1900
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This photo shows a person crouched by the water’s edge, sorting mussels into a basket. Their back is turned, and they wear a long coat and a hat. The shore is rocky and wet, with a calm lake stretching toward a line of dark trees in the distance. The photo’s title, *The Mussel Gatherer*, hints this is everyday work, not a posed portrait. The grainy, sepia tone makes it feel like a moment frozen in time. Want to see more? Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art.