Edward S. Curtis

Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952) dedicated his entire life to a project all his own, using a camera to preserve the cultural heritage of the indigenous peoples of North America. For three decades, he travelled to every region of the continent, through all kinds of terrain and weather. Whether it was the 50°C heat of the Mojave Desert, the -20°C chill of the Arctic, or by land or water, Curtis adapted, moving on foot, by horse, wagon, donkey, boat, train, or later by automobile. During those years, he produced more than 40,000 photos.

Among these, the finest photographs were entitled The North American Indian, and presented in twenty elaborate, large-scale portfolios. With this, Curtis raised a monument commemorating the disappearing culture of North America's indigenous peoples and aimed to bring it fully back to life. The book includes a selection of photographs from the text volumes.

Without Edward S. Curtis, our knowledge of the rites of the Hopi in America's southwest, or the ability to picture the Qagyuhl winter dancers, or understand the ceremonies on Nunivak Island would be severely limited. The basic humanistic message that shines from his pictures remains highly relevant: peaceful coexistence is possible, and one can overcome hatred and prejudice if we are always willing, on meeting a stranger, to seek some common ground.