Modern Cupeño House
Artist
Edward S. Curtis
(American, 1868 - 1952)
Engraver
Suffolk Engraving Company
(American, active early 20th century)
Datecopyright 1924
Mediumphotogravure on paper
Dimensions17 7/8 × 22 inches (45.4 × 55.9 cm)
Other (Plate): 13 3/8 × 16 3/4 inches (34 × 42.5 cm)
Other (Plate): 13 3/8 × 16 3/4 inches (34 × 42.5 cm)
Credit LinePurchase of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, 2013
Object number2013.2.15.5
ClassificationsPhotographs
Label TextThe Cupeño are a Southern Californian people.Traditionally they lived in dome shaped homes made from natural materials. When Curtis photographed this home, he identified it as “modern.” Mud bricks form the rectangular building in the style of a Euro-American structure. Curtis made no comment on this house other than the title. In another remark about the Cupeño, he noted that “the Supreme Court ruled adversely upon their title to the land of their nativity.” In 1903, the U.S. government required them to move and settle on a small reservation. They had no homes there and had to start again.
ProvenanceAcquired by subscription directly from the artist by the National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. [1]; purchased December 6, 2012 through (Christies, New York, New York [2]) by (Arader Galleries, New York, New York); purchased June 10, 2013 through (Arader Galleries, New York, New York) by the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation; accessioned to the Stark Museum of Art
| [1] This set was stored in the National Geographic Society’s archive housed in the Society’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.
| [2] "The National Geographic Collection: The Art of Exploration," December 6, 2012, Christie’s, New York, Rockefeller Plaza, sale 2603, lot 65
On View
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