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Artwork

Portfolio XII, Plate 406: A Hopi Girl

Edward S. Curtis , 1905

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

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.

Artist & collection

Artist

Edward S. Curtis

Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952) was an American artist.

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Compiled & edited by , Editor & Founder.