Edward Sheriff Curtis, Nova—Walpi, 1922
6
The strong and immediate eye-contact of this Hopi man with the camera confronts the observer directly.
plain
2020-12-03T08:26:22-08:00
The strong and immediate eye-contact of this Hopi man with the camera confronts the observer directly. Through his clear and focused eyes, it seems, we can take a look right at his very soul. What is it that we can actually see? With our eyes, we identify the appearance of the man's face and part of his upper body, while our mind imagines all of what is lying behind his cover—the culture, the traditions, the family and friends of this person. Details of costume and headdress give us some indication of Hopi culture, and the photograph successfully represents this man with significant clarity. The lines on his forehead and the gleam in his eyes, the structure and knotting style of his headband, as well as the pearl necklace and earrings being worn each contribute to the overall visual experience of the photograph and the emotion that is conducted by the individuality of the sitter. In contrast to established strategies for anthropological photography, which, in the main, relied on scientific documentation and measuring of human appearances, this image does not serve to provide any direct measurement or scientific data at all. Rather, it identifies and portrays the subject’s humanity. In our appreciation of this open communication of strength, there remains little doubt that the man poses with a sense of firm belonging to the indigenous group he represents. Despite declining Native populations, the photograph conveys a sense of permanence into his image and exemplifies Curtis’s efforts to reflect the personhood of Native Americans.
