Who painted Portfolio XII, Plate 430: Snake Dancer in Costume?

Portfolio XII, Plate 430: Snake Dancer in Costume was painted by Edward S. Curtis in 1900.

Where can I see Portfolio XII, Plate 430: Snake Dancer in Costume?

Portfolio XII, Plate 430: Snake Dancer in Costume is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

Portfolio XII, Plate 430: Snake Dancer in Costume

Edward S. Curtis , 1900

Portfolio XII, Plate 430: Snake Dancer in Costume is a work on paper by Edward S. Curtis. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Portfolio XII, Plate 430, titled "Snake Dancer in Costume," is a photographic print produced by Edward S.

Accession no.: 1995.203.32.31
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 430, titled "Snake Dancer in Costume," is a photographic print produced by Edward S. Curtis in 1900. The image forms part of Curtis’s extensive visual record of Native American life and is currently in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The photograph depicts a dancer adorned in traditional attire, performing a ritualistic snake dance. The composition captures the intricate costume details and the fluid motion of the performer, offering insight into ceremonial practices and cultural expression among Indigenous communities at the turn of the twentieth century.

Technique & Style

Curtis employed early photographic processes, likely gelatin silver printing, to render the scene with sharp contrast and fine tonal gradations. His approach combines documentary precision with a staged aesthetic, emphasizing both ethnographic detail and visual drama.

History & Provenance

Created in 1900, the plate was subsequently incorporated into Curtis’s published portfolios, which circulated widely among academic and popular audiences. The Cleveland Museum of Art acquired the work as part of its early‑20th‑century photography holdings, preserving it for scholarly research and public exhibition.