Accession Number
1997/1.157

Title
Flathead Horse Trappings

Artist(s)
Edward S. Curtis

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1910

Medium & Support
photogravure on paper

Dimensions
9 1/4 in x 12 3/8 in (23.5 cm x 31.5 cm);14 3/8 in x 19 7/16 in (36.5 cm x 49.3 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Stephen M. Taylor

Subject matter
This image of a Flathead rider, and horse in costume, is from The North American Indian (1907-1930), a twenty-volume series created by Edward Curtis in order to document the lives of Native Americans in diverse regions of the Western United States. This limited edition volume was financially supported by J.P. Morgan, and promoted by Theodore Roosevelt. The resulting works have been criticized and celebrated for their portrayal of Native American life. Curtis often included anachronous props and clothing and presented rituals that had not been performed in years in order to support an idealized and romantic reading of a “vanishing race.”

Physical Description
This is a photograph of a horse and rider. Both wear patterned, geometric costume and are framed by an wooded landscape.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Equus caballus (species)
Flathead
Native American
costume (mode of fashion)
costumes
flora (plants)
horseback riding
horses
man on horseback
modern and contemporary art
seated
trees