Edward S Curtis American Art (Hardcover)

~ Rh Value Publishing (Author) "Under almost any definition of the word, Edward Curtis was, himself, a highly realized "warrior"..." (more)
Key Phrases: platinum print, Native American, American Indian

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Considered by many to be the most ambitious publication ever undertaken by a single man, Edward Curtis’s magnum opus The North American Indian (1930) comprised 20 volumes of illustrated text and 20 accompanying portfolios of oversize photographs. It took 25 years and cost more than $30 million in today’s dollars to complete. Most of the 100-plus images that Curtis-expert Cardozo culled for this volume were taken from that landmark work, making this book an excellent starting point for those unfamiliar with Curtis’s poignant, penetrating photographs of Indian chiefs and warriors. No other photographer of Indian life was able to capture his subjects in such an intimate way. His photographs are dramatic, respectful and stripped of all inhibition. That so many eminencies of the Oglala, Hopi, Zuni, Nez Perce and Apsaroke tribes allowed themselves to be photographed so honestly by a white man is as captivating as the images themselves. An introductory essay by Cardozo describes the influence that Curtis’s early training as studio photographer had on his later development of a "coherent aesthetic that put great emphasis on careful lighting; classic, simplified compositions; a warm, sepia tonality; and, frequently, softened focus." Another essay recounts the man’s rise from "abject poverty" to prize-winning accomplishment. In completing his work, Curtis sacrificed fame, family and fortune and, in 1952, he died penniless and unknown. These excellent oversize reproductions of his work are a tribute to his selfless dedication.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Description

A large-format collection of Edward S. Curtis's stunning, evocative, and wildly popular portraits of Native Americans. These indelible portraits of Native Americans by Edward S. Curtis, made at the dawn of the 20th century, have become among the most avidly collected, published, and sought-after emblems of early encounters with American Indian life. There is no more comprehensive record from the period of the diverse Native peoples. EDWARD S. CURTIS: THE great warriors is drawn from the collection of Christopher Cardoza and will feature iconic Curtis pictures as well as several little-known gems. Many have never been published as large-format folio prints. This will be one of several thematic books; the next one, slated for Spring 2005, will be a collection of Curtis's portraits of Native American women. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Gramercy (March 20, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517069814
• ISBN-13: 978-0517069813
• Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 10.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,160,573 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Edward S. Curtis by Hans Christian Adam, July 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Edward S. Curtis (Photobook) (Hardcover)

The author, Hans Christian Adam, is clearly an admirer of his subject, Edward S. Curtis. Curtis, who lived from 1868-1952, devoted his life to photographing the American Indian. In this book, Adam has included 172 pages of Curtis' most impressive photos along with 15 pages of text and a paragraph by Theodore Roosevelt on Curtis. Adam gives a clear picture of Curtis as a man as well as a photographer. In his photos, Curtis shows the life,customs,history,legends and religion of the Indians. To quote Adam: "Curtis wanted to make up for the injustices that members of his race had inflicted on the Indians". The high quality, large format, sepia photos are magical and leave a lasting impression on the viewer. The best part of the book is the photos. The only thing I do not like about the book is that the text is in English, German and French. This takes up space, but it does not detract from the photos and text. This book will make the reader want to see more photos by Curtis.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Photographs!, December 25, 2006

By	Jennifer Rowland "ICANREAD!" (Ogden,Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Edward S. Curtis: The Great Warriors (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully photographed book by a photographer with obvious reverence for the American Indian.