Accession Number
1997/1.158

Title
Start of a War Party

Artist(s)
Edward S. Curtis

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1907

Medium & Support
photogravure on paper

Dimensions
9 1/2 in x 12 5/8 in (24.2 cm x 32 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 group of Teton Sioux, or Lakota, 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 party of horses and riders. The subjects prepare to head to battle, with spears and regalia. Behind them is a tipi and prairie 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)
Lakota (culture or style)
Native American
War
Weaponry
costume (mode of fashion)
costumes
hills
horseback riding
horses
men on horseback
modern and contemporary art
tents
tipis
war horses
wars
weapons