A standing full-length portrait of a Native American "Old Crow" fills this cabinet card, made by D. F. Barry at his West Superior, Wisconsin studio, almost certainly during the late 1880s or early 1890s when Barry was most active in documenting Plains Indian leaders. Barry was one of the foremost photographers of Native American subjects of his era, maintaining close relationships with Hunkpapa Lakota leaders and producing an extensive catalog of portraits that he advertised for sale by mail.
The subject wears a dark button-front vest over bare arms, metal armband cuffs on each bicep, a large shell or bone disc at the throat, and long braids wrapped in fur or cloth, with a single upright feather at the crown. A long strand of beads descends to the floor, a plaid trade cloth wrap sits at the waist, and moccasins are visible at his feet, with a woven blanket and what appears to be a quirt lying on the studio floor beside him.
The reverse bears a printed red-ink imprint featuring an engraved portrait of Chief Gall above the text "D. F. Barry, Photographer, West Superior, Wis. Photographs of all the Noted Indians. Catalogues Mailed on Application."
From the collection of James Lee Soffer
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