Item #145211 A large portrait photograph of a Central Australian Indigenous man with traditional scarification. Indigenous Australian Portrait, Charles P. SCOTT.
A large portrait photograph of a Central Australian Indigenous man with traditional scarification
A large portrait photograph of a Central Australian Indigenous man with traditional scarification
A large portrait photograph of a Central Australian Indigenous man with traditional scarification
[Indigenous Australian Portrait]. SCOTT, Charles P.

A large portrait photograph of a Central Australian Indigenous man with traditional scarification

A vintage gelatin silver print (303 × 226 mm), slightly marked and creased, with a tiny sealed split at the top edge; tiny chip to the bottom right-hand corner; in very good condition.

Charles P. Scott (1878-1928), an Adelaide photographer, made at least two trips to the Oodnadatta area between 1903 and 1908 to photograph pastoral properties, in particular Todmorden and Allendale Stations. During this time he produced several fine portraits of the local Indigenous people, including 'Jacky' and 'Clara of Oodnadatta'. Stylistically, this portrait is undoubtedly one of the same series. On the verso are two captions: 'Portrait | Australian Aborigines' (in ink), and 'Do not forget to wash any time within week' (in pencil).

This portrait was reproduced in the 1916 special issue of 'National Geographic' devoted to Australia, attributed to C.P. Scott, alongside another portrait, with the caption 'South Australian Blackfellows. These savages rank lowest in intelligence of all human beings'. This caption was mentioned as a particularly egregious example of racist content in the magazine's 2018 apology for its past coverage.

Offered together with a postcard-format example of the same portrait, with the blindstamp of the photographer in the bottom right-hand corner ('Chas P. Scott | Waymouth St | Adelaide.'). [2 items].

Item #145211

Price (AUD): $3,000.00

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