Who painted Portfolio XII, Plate 406: A Hopi Girl?

Portfolio XII, Plate 406: A Hopi Girl was painted by Edward S. Curtis in 1905.

Where can I see Portfolio XII, Plate 406: A Hopi Girl?

Portfolio XII, Plate 406: A Hopi Girl is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

Portfolio XII, Plate 406: A Hopi Girl

Edward S. Curtis , 1905

Portfolio XII, Plate 406: A Hopi Girl 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.: 1995.203.32.7
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

Portfolio XII, Plate 406: A Hopi Girl is a photographic work by Edward S. Curtis, dated to 1905, currently part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The photograph depicts a young girl identified as being of Hopi descent, characterized by her distinctive hairstyle of two large, smooth buns. Her attire, including a dark, draped garment with a high collar and a pearl necklace, suggests a formal or traditional presentation. Her calm, slightly averted expression adds to the portrait's serene and serious ambiance.

Technique & Style

The work exhibits characteristics of early 20th-century studio portraiture, with a formal composition and meticulous attention to the subject's pose and attire, reflecting Curtis's approach to documenting Native American cultures through a blend of ethnographic interest and aesthetic formality.

History & Provenance

Created in 1905 by Edward S. Curtis, the photograph is now housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, indicating its transition from the artist's portfolio to a public museum collection.

Context

This piece is part of Curtis's broader project to photograph Native American tribes, situating it within the early 20th-century context of ethnographic documentation and the artistic practices of the time.