Curtis' Final Vision

After each photograph was taken on glass, a glass positive, the opposite of the photograph, was made. This positive was then etched onto a copper plate. An etching consists of lines of depth, the darker being deeper, shallower etched lines being subtle. Once inked, the plate forces the image onto paper by having the paper conform to each line of depth on the plate when pressed into the plate by the printing press.

It is important to note that adjustments could be and were made directly to the copper plate by the Artist to remove or add details not contained in the original photographic negative. In this way, Curtis expressed the final vision of his art. Therefore, the plate is the final step in the creative process and, as such, this authentic plate has both intrinsic and historical value of its own.