Gathering wokas - Klamath 1923

Edward Sheriff Curtis made this photographic print, ‘Gathering wokas - Klamath’ sometime in the early 20th century. It’s a scene bathed in soft sepia tones, capturing a moment of serene labor on Klamath Lake. I like to imagine Curtis out there, setting up his camera, watching the light shift on the water and those lily pads. What was he thinking as he framed this shot? Maybe he was contemplating the relationship between the people and the land, or pondering how to best capture the stillness of the water. The choice of sepia gives the image a timeless feel, like a memory fading into the past. There is a feeling of mutual exchange going on; the community is nourished by the land, and the land is cultivated with care. I am struck by its gentle beauty and the quiet story it tells.