Photograph of Whirling Horse, Sioux Indian mounted with drawings of buffalo, tipi, Indian and horse
Photograph of Whirling Horse, Sioux Indian mounted with drawings of buffalo, tipi, Indian and horse
Usage conditions apply
- Description
- In 1898 New York photographer Gertrude Käsebier (1852-1934) embarked on a deeply personal project, creating a set of prints that rank among the most compelling of her celebrated body of work. Käsebier was on the threshold of a career that would establish her as both the leading portraitist of her time and an extraordinary art photographer. Her new undertaking was inspired by viewing the grand parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West troupe en route to Madison Square Garden for several weeks of performances.
- Käsebier had spent her childhood on the Great Plains, and retained many vivid, happy memories of playing with nearby Native American children. She quickly sent a letter to William "Buffalo Bill" Cody (1846-1917), requesting permission to photograph Sioux Indians traveling with the show in her studio. Within weeks, Käsebier began a unique and special project photographing the Indian men, women, and children, formally and informally. Friendships developed, and her photography of these Native Americans continued for more than a decade.
- This Käsebier photograph of Whirling Horse is mounted to sketch paper with drawings of a tipi, a buffalo, and an Indian on horseback. Whirling Horse presumably made the drawings during the portrait session and gave them to Käsebier.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Object Name
- platinum print
- drawing
- Date made
- ca 1898
- maker
- Kasebier, Gertrude
- Physical Description
- platinum print (overall production method/technique)
- paper (overall material)
- Measurements
- image: 20.3 cm x 15.5 cm; 8 in x 6 1/8 in
- ID Number
- PG.69.236.077
- accession number
- 287543
- catalog number
- 69.236.077
- Credit Line
- Mina Turner
- subject
- Native Americans
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Photographic History
- Gertrude Kasebier
- Photography
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.
Note: Comment submission is temporarily unavailable while we make improvements to the site. We apologize for the interruption. If you have a question relating to the museum's collections, please first check our Collections FAQ. If you require a personal response, please use our Contact page.
