Featured Is this picture of an Indigenous Chief a painting or print?

Hi all, having trouble figuring out if this is an oil painting or a type of print with added paint. The description when I bought it indicated, "The original source for this image is a celebrated photograph by Edward S. Curtis, taken around 1927. Curtis was an American photographer and ethnologist renowned for his extensive 20-volume project, The North American Indian, which aimed to document the cultures of over 80 tribes."

I have looked through a loop and there are no dots. I can see paint but other areas are so smooth they are almost photograph-like. The backing is cardboard, it looks like the picture is stuck on to it. It measures 16.5"L x 13.5"W framed and 13.75"L x 11"W unframed. I can't tell of the cracking is real or faux. It also looks quite yellowy, may be nicotine stained. No sigs that I can see. All info appreciated, thanks!

 

wonderful image !

 

The AI Gods say-
'Yes, Edward Curtis created hand-colored photographs using both photo oils and watercolors. While the vast majority of his work is recognized for its sepia-toned photogravures, Curtis produced a small body of hand-colored platinum and silver prints, as well as hand-colored photogravure
Hand-colored photographs were created on platinum, silver, and photogravure mediums, with colors applied to bring life to the images. The hand-coloring process was used on various types of prints, including a small body of gelatin silver prints.'
Here's what the Cardozo Gallery site says about Curtis' various processes-
https://edwardcurtis.com/christopher-cardozo/collecting-curtis/

 

Pictured is possibly Bob Black Plume ...
https://read.aupress.ca/read/we-are-coming-home/section/8d6aabc9-9978-4541-a36c-330e85f47fb1

 

I luv it when you say ...possibly !!!!

 

Oh, interesting! Yes that's definitely the same image, and makes sense because I and the auction house are in Alberta. If that's the 1970s then unlikely to be by Edward Curtis then I think?

 

Thank you, great link!

 

The 1970s date is when information was passed from the elder. I'd guess the photo dates to the 1910s. Contact that archive, maybe they know the date and the photographer.

Glenbow Archives (NA-4978-2)

 

What do I know? I'm a tourist on the internet.

 

Tourist with intuition and map-reading skills.

 

Just a note about regarding image searching. I could not believe that I could not find this man's photograph on the internet. It's a fine portrait, not a snapshot. I tried the full image, different cropping, made it sharper, faced him to the left. Nothing. I finally converted the image to B&W and he popped up.

 

Agreed! I couldn't find it either- I'm so glad you did. I will check out the Glenbow, I'm pretty familiar with them although they are closed for renovations atm (I think their online collections should still be accessible though)

 

Alas, no date, name or creator! Digital Collections

 

Your one of our key 'Finders' bro !
PS- If this is an orig print hand-colored at (under the auspices of) the Curtis Studio, that would be a mighty good thing.

 

a good reminder that there are limits to Google !

 

That would be great! now to see who I can contact to give me an expert opinion- maybe here? Contact Us | Edward Curtis

 

I'm also wondering if the attribution of Bob Black Plume in black and white image in the article is correct. I can't find another image of Bob Black Plume to compare but it looks like he may have come way after that image was taken. I'm definitely going down a rabbit hole..

 

Other photographers to investigate ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=act...LjK4B9EBwgcDMi0zyAcNgAgB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp