
Portfolio VI, Plate 205: Bringing the Sweat-Lodge Willows - Piegan
1900
Ritualistic preparation is elevated to fine art through Curtis's documentary approach, capturing the sacred sweat lodge ceremony with respectful distance and artistic composition.
- Medium
- photogravure
- Location
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
More by Edward S. Curtis
Spotted works by Edward S. Curtis
Artists in conversation
Karl Moon
American · b. 1879
Moon was a contemporary of Curtis who similarly documented Native American peoples of the Southwest through ethnographic photography with sepia toned aesthetic quality and deep respect for Indigenous ceremonial life and cultural practices.

Adam Clark Vroman
American · b. 1856

Vroman photographed Hopi and Pueblo peoples in the same early 20th century period using comparable documentary and pictorialist approaches, capturing Indigenous ritual and daily life with similar compositional dignity and ethnographic sensitivity.
Roland Reed
American · b. 1864
Reed dedicated his photographic career to portraying Native American peoples of the Northern Plains including the Piegan Blackfoot with the same sepia toned pictorialist style and reverent documentary approach seen in this Curtis work.
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