“THE RUSH GATHERER”

1910

This is one of Curtis’ most beautiful and compelling goldtones. The unusually large light toned areas of the image help create a goldtone of unrivaled brilliance. There is no other Curtis image that more fully takes advantage of the beauty of the goldtone process. This photograph was taken on Flathead Lake in Northern Montana and the Native American pictured is from the Kutenai tribe. The Kutenai were semi-nomadic and occupied portions of southeastern British Columbia, northern Idaho, and northwestern Montana, moving seasonally to follow food sources. The Kutenai usually crafted their canoes of pine bark, but as illustrated here, occasionally made canoes of fresh elk hides stretched over a framework of fir strips. Rushes gathered in swamps and lakes were dried and strung together into mats, lodge coverings, mattresses, and other utilitarian items.