Michael Lehr Antiques
Live Auction

Fall Photographic History Auction, 2025

Sat, Sep 6, 2025 01:00PM EDT
Lot 384

"Kaloma," 1914 P.N. Co. Hand-Tinted Print

Estimate: $200 - $300

Bid Increments

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$0 $10
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Iconic and widely circulated early 20th-century romantic portrait titled Kaloma, published in 1914 by the P.N. Company. The image features a young woman draped in a translucent black veil, posed frontally with her hands modestly crossed before her. Her partially revealed figure, direct gaze, and softly hand-tinted cheeks and lips create a blend of innocence and sensuality that captivated audiences of the period.

Often misidentified in folklore as a portrait of Geronimo's daughter or linked to various Wild West legends, Kaloma was, in fact, a commercially produced art photograph with no direct Native American connection. Its stylistic elements reflect the popular aesthetic of the Edwardian era, combining photographic realism with the airbrush-like softness of hand-coloring.

Framed examples like this one were mass-produced for parlor display and remain enduring artifacts of early American popular visual culture. Despite its fictional backstory, Kaloma continues to resonate as a symbol of early 20th-century ideals of feminine mystique and beauty.

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