Edward S. Curtis: The North American Indian - Complete Portfolios
Through more than 700 photos across 20 portfolios, Edward S. Curtis artfully preserves North America's indigenous heritage, inviting us to embrace the diversity of traditions, revive forgotten narratives, and nurture a spirit of peaceful coexistence.
A 30-Year Photographic Journey
Between 1907 and 1930, photographer Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952) dedicated three decades to documenting North American indigenous peoples. This multilingual edition (German, French, English) compiles the complete portfolio collection originally published across 20 volumes with accompanying portfolios containing over 2,000 photogravure illustrations.
Historical Documentation of 80 Tribal Communities
Curtis traveled from the Mexican border to the Bering Strait, visiting 80 American Indian tribes to record traditional ways of life through both artistic and ethnographic approaches. The original work included only 272 copies, making originals extremely rare. This TASCHEN publication gathers the entire portfolio into one accessible volume.
Museum-Quality Photography Collection
The complete portfolios feature sepia-toned photogravures documenting indigenous peoples across diverse geographic regions including the Arctic, Subarctic, Northwest, Plains, Plateau, Great Basin, Northeast, and Southwest. Each photograph captures ceremonial traditions, daily life, landscapes, and portraits of tribal leaders including Geronimo, Chief Joseph, Red Cloud, and Medicine Crow.
A Precious Historical Archive
This monumental work stands as both a historical document and triumph of photographic form. Curtis's comprehensive documentation includes visual records of traditional clothing, dwellings, ceremonies, and cultural practices that were already beginning to disappear during the early 20th century. The collection represents an unequaled achievement in the history of documentary photography.
Trilingual Edition Specifications
This hardcover edition presents all portfolio plates in their entirety, complemented by selections from the encyclopedic volumes. The book includes introductory text providing historical context about Curtis's life work and the significance of this photographic achievement for understanding Native American history and cultural heritage.
