Artist: Edward S. Curtis
Title: Tapa -"Antelope Water"- Taos
Negative Date: 1905
Print Date: c.1905
Medium: Platinum photograph
Markings: Signed in ink at lower right.
Blindstamp at lower left, "Copyrighted 1905 by E.S. Curtis".
In negative at lower left, "334-05" Curtis
Print Size: 16.5" x 12.5": (42cm x 31.75cm)

The gallery retail for this photograph is: $55,000
Auction Estimate: $35,000 - $45,000

This stunning portrait is of a young man from the Taos Pueblo, in northern New Mexico, wrapped in simple white cotton cloth. This was, and remains today, traditional dress for men in Taos Pueblo. This iconic Curtis photograph was produced as a small format photogravure (approximately 7”x5” image size.) In this large format, it exists only in platinum print form. It is believed that only four to six of these large format platinum prints exist. It has always been very highly sought after as a platinum print, on a par with portraits of Chief Joseph or “A Walpi Man”. This is an extremely beautiful example of this photograph: open, luminous, subtle, and warm toned.

This vintage platinum print is in excellent overall condition. There was a historic tear (1”-2.5cm) between subjects upper lip and nose that has been professionally consolidated and retouched by Paul Messier, LLC. Various minor print imperfections not effecting overall print quality, e.g. several, minor areas of historic re-touching, visible only upon close inspection, historic adhesive remnants at the margins on the reverse side of the print, and very minor scattered areas of surface loss on the reverse of the print only, not effecting recto or image. Print quality is excellent and original ink signature remains strong and crisp.

Edward Curtis is the most widely collected fine art photography in the history of the medium, and his work is found in major public and private collections internationally. He has also become the most widely exhibited. His work has moved viewers on every continent but Antarctica. He created an unprecedented body of work, which has won awards and accolades internationally. While the project nearly drove him into bankruptcy and cost him his health and family, today the aggregate value of the photographs he created exceeds one half of a billion dollars. Please see biography link above for further details.