Portfolio IX, Plate 320: Lummi Type

1899

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Portfolio IX, Plate 320: Lummi Type is a 1899 by Edward S. Curtis, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Edward S. Curtis
When & what style?: 1899 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a person with dark, straight hair pulled back. They’re wearing a fur collar and a beaded necklace, and their expression is calm but serious. The lighting is soft, focusing on their face while the background stays dark. This photo was taken as part of a series meant to document Indigenous peoples. The artist used simple lighting to highlight the person’s features clearly. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this strong light-and-dark contrast works in other art.