Zuni Water Carriers c. 1900

Adam Clark Vroman, a photographer active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, documented Native American life. “Zuni Water Carriers” is a black and white photograph showing two Zuni women carrying water on their heads. The image is part of a deck of playing cards Vroman created, with each card featuring a photograph of Zuni people, their customs, and the environment of the Zuni Pueblo, located in western New Mexico. Vroman's work sought to capture the dignity and beauty of Native American culture and provide a record of a way of life that was rapidly changing.