What types of scenes did Edward S. Curtis photograph for The North American Indian?

For his monumental project The North American Indian, Edward S. Curtis captured a wide variety of subjects to document the lives and homelands of indigenous peoples of the trans-Mississippi West. His photography included:12

• Portraits: These were the predominant type of image, featuring individuals such as Chief Joseph—Nez Perce and Two Strike—Oglala.2
• Landscapes: Curtis sought to document the natural environments of the people he photographed.2
• Scenes of Everyday Life: These included encampment scenes, such as the Crow On the Little Bighorn, which were composed to highlight the subjects' connection to the natural world.2
• Still Lifes: Curtis frequently photographed commonplace items, such as baskets, arranging them to emphasize the beauty and intricate craftsmanship of the objects.2

While Curtis aimed to create a documentary record, many of his images involved subjects reconstructing traditional ways of life that had already faded, sometimes staging ceremonies for the camera. His work was often influenced by Pictorialism, though his later images frequently adopted the directness of straight photography.23