Homeward, 1898

This photograph is among Edward Curtis’ very earliest Native American images and one of his first award-winning works. Made in Puget Sound, it stands as one of the historically significant photographs that helped launch Curtis’ thirty-year career.

The massive canoe shown here was carved from a single dugout tree trunk. Canoes held profound practical and cultural importance for many Native communities, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, where daily life and survival were closely tied to the sea.

The platinum process beautifully enhances the dramatic clouds and expansive sky, giving the image exceptional tonal depth and atmosphere. This print was included in the landmark exhibition Sacred Legacy: Edward S. Curtis and the North American Indian, which traveled throughout Europe in the early 2000s.