Edward Sheriff Curtis Framed Photogravure "Ring Thunder Brule" ca. 1907 For Sale

ca. 1907

Size Image 8.375" H x 6" WFrame 15.25" H x 12.75" W

Non Glare Glass

Excellent Condition

"Ring Thunder - Brulé" (1907), a portrait by the renowned American photographer and ethnologist Edward Sheriff Curtis. (1868–1952). This image is part of Curtis's extensive documentation of Native American cultures, particularly from his monumental 20-volume work, The North American Indian (1907–1930), which includes over 2,200 photogravures and ethnographic texts on more than 80 tribes.

The portrait depicts Ring Thunder, a member of the Brulé (or Sicangu) band of the Lakota (Sioux) people. The Brulé were a subgroup of the Teton Sioux, historically residing in the Great Plains region, including areas now part of South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation. Ring Thunder was likely a warrior or notable figure in his community, as Curtis often focused on leaders, elders, and individuals embodying traditional Lakota life. The name "Ring Thunder" may evoke Lakota spiritual or natural elements, possibly linked to thunder beings (Wakíŋyaŋ) in Sioux cosmology, and historical records mention a "Ring Thunder camp" led by Chief Blue Thunder on the Rosebud Reservation in the 1870s.

Taken in 1907 during Curtis's fieldwork among the Sioux, the photograph reflects his mission to record indigenous customs before they were lost to assimilation policies and modernization. The Brulé Sioux faced significant challenges post-Wounded Knee Massacre (1890), including land loss and cultural suppression. Curtis's image contributes to a visual archive of Lakota identity, though it omits the era's hardships.

Edward S. Curtis, nicknamed the "Shadow Catcher" by Native Americans for his ability to capture their likeness, spent decades traveling the American West. His project was funded by patrons like J.P. Morgan and produced over 40,000 negatives. While celebrated for its artistic and ethnographic value, Curtis's images have faced criticism for staging scenes and ignoring contemporary Native realities, such as poverty and government oppression. Nonetheless, they remain vital historical records, held in institutions like the Library of Congress and Smithsonian.

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