EDWARD SHERIFF CURTIS Pl. 645 Lodge of the Horn society - Blood 1926 11.4x15.4" Photogravure on 18x22" Japan Vellum paper from Portfolio 18 of The North American Indian ASG# ESC/8312

The Curtis caption reads The Horn society is the custodian of a cult about which the natives are loath to give details. It stands apart from the system of age-societies, which though partly religious in character were more concerned with warfare and the preservation of order in camp. Numerous taboos apply to the conduct of Horn members, and there are sexual rites in which the wife of a novice and his sponsor participate.

In the 1920s Curtis went into Northern Minnesota And Alberta, Canada photographing the Cree and the Blood or the Kainaiwa of the three nations comprising the Blackfoot Confederacy. First Nations.

Edward Sheriff Curtis (1868-1952) created a legacy that was a monumental visual tour de force, an ethnographic, heroic and theatrical record of the American Indian and their recollected and imagined way of life before the white man. Between 1898 and 1928 Working in collaboration with many tribal members Curtis created an ethno-historical account combined with photographic notions of character portraiture, environmental portraiture and classical romanticism as well as straight documentary views. He published 20 octavo volumes with around 75 prints per volume each accompanied with a larger portfolio of usually 36 hand pulled photogravures. THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN (1906-1928) is considered the most lavish and elegantly illustrated set of photographic books ever produced. This has lot has original vintage photogravure from this publication made under Curtis supervision.

Excellent. Minor wear