Page 48 - YGARTUA: Magnum Opus - volume three

Edward S. Curtis, American Photographer
and Ethnologist whose work focused on the
American West and on Native American people.
The Vanishing Race by Edward S. Curtis
(1904). He sought to document the assorted
tribes fearing the imminent disappearance of
America’s first inhabitants.
“Edward S. Curits’s photography of our
North American natives was brought
to my attention by my wife Joanne, in 1974.
It was not my first introduction to our native
people of North America, but it was the first
time I contemplated them as a subject matter. I
never considered myself as a portrait artist, but
I have always been drawn to the story behind
the face, the history, the emphasis on capturing
the power of their presence. I was intrigued with
Curtis’s lifestyle, crossing America, camping
outside the native reservations, awaiting for
them to come, anticipating their curiosity and
interest to trust him enough and permit him
to photograph an historical record of our First
People of North America.
With reference to my own Basque Heritage, I
have always had empathy and compassion
for one’s sacred right to preserve and cherish
their heritage. It is like an endless passion and
dedication to present our natives with dignity
and to stand up for the rights of our First People.
I have painted nearly all of Curtis’s studies, the
most eloquent record on our native people (from
1974 until present day 2020). When painting
the natives, our First People of the World it
is often in the form of a visual statement, it is
motivational, it is important. Over the years
it really seems that a guiding hand is directing
me to create a tableau, a record of character
portraying the Nomadic People of the World.
It seemed that some instinctive and natural
inquisitiveness drawn from my Basque Heritage
- which is one of the oldest known ethnic groups
in the world - was acting as a force which
impelled me to seek out those fundamental
values which are the root foundations of all
civilizations.
This painting is a Tribute to Edward S. Curtis,
through his important work, recording the
history of the North American Natives it
furthered my understanding and fascination
of our world–it took me on my own journey,
seizing the opportunity to record our natives
across North America. In Arizona I painted
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