A Sioux Chief [Philip Standing Soldier] 1898

Joseph Keiley made this gelatin silver print of Philip Standing Soldier in the late 19th or early 20th century. Keiley was part of the Photo-Secession movement, which advocated for photography as a fine art. The gelatin silver process itself involves coating paper with light-sensitive materials, which, when exposed to light through a negative, create an image. The tonal range here, from deep blacks to soft grays, is achieved through careful control of exposure and development, skills honed through practice and experiment. What is interesting here is that Keiley is using an industrial medium to convey the artistry of his vision. While the subject and aesthetic are aligned with traditional portraiture, the production process comes from the age of industry, tying this image to wider social issues of representation, cultural exchange, and even exploitation. Keiley's skilled manipulation of the medium elevates it beyond mere documentation, but still, we must acknowledge the work's complex position amidst the history of craft and fine arts.