Photogravure After Edward S Curtis Kotsuis and Hohhuq Nakoaktok Framed Print

PRODUCT DETAILS

• Brand: After Edward Sheriff Curtis (American, 1868-1952), from his 1914 negative; the plate as published was printed by John Andrew & Son, Boston

• Material: Photogravure (intaglio) on textured wove paper with a fibrous surface in the visible margin; continuous tone, no halftone dot pattern resolved; framed under glass and double-matted

• Dimensions: Framed approx. 25 1/2 in W x 21 1/2 in H; printed image approx. 15 1/2 in W x 11 1/4 in H; full sheet size concealed by the mat

• Color/Finish: Black and white image, cream double mat, gilt-and-mahogany moulding with applied corner ornaments

• Condition: Good display condition. Even tone with no foxing, tears or stains visible inside the mat opening; a few tiny light specks in the dark background field. Frame shows rubbed gilding and small chips and cracks at the corner ornaments. Not examined out of the frame, so margins, verso and any platemark or watermark are not visible. The paper photographs essentially neutral white against its cream mat.

• Era/Period: Image made from Curtis's 1914 negative and published in 1915 in Volume/Portfolio X, The Kwakiutl; the printing date of this impression is not established

• Subject: "Kotsuis and Hohhuq - Nakoaktok" - two crouching masked dancers in elongated hinged-beak bird masks and shredded cedar-bark cloaks, representing the servitors of the man-eating monster Pahpaqalanohsiwi in the Hamatsa winter dance. The letterpress caption matches the published Plate 336 in text, typeface and lower-left placement, but there is no signature, plate number, copyright line or printer's credit visible inside the mat opening. Offered as a photogravure after Curtis and sold as found; it is not offered as a verified vintage 1915 portfolio impression, and reproductions of this same image are widely sold.

This is one of Curtis's most recognized Northwest Coast images, and the printed image measures close to the large portfolio-plate format rather than the much smaller text-volume size. The continuous-tone surface, the fibrous paper visible in the margin, and the correct caption typeface and placement are all consistent with the published plate, and the image itself reads clearly at wall distance. It comes framed and matted and ready to hang, priced as an unauthenticated estate print so the buyer can do their own examination out of the frame.