Thursday, August 4, 2011

1902 New Mexico Farming Photo: Moki Hoeing Corn


New Mexico Museum of Art

The Man with the Hoe, Moki Pueblos, 1902; Adam Clark Vroman and Detroit Photographic Company (American, 1856 - 1916); photochrom, 9 x 7 in. (22.9 x 17.8 cm)

Adam Clark Vroman was born in La Salle, Illinois. He started working for the Railroad in 1874, but in 1892, to improve his wife's health, the family moved to Pasadena, California. It was then that he began his interest in photography. As an amateur photographer and bookseller, Vroman traveled to the Southwest, especially New Mexico, to photograph in the American Indian pueblos. He is best known for his portrait work there. Unlike many photographers at the time, he was considered to be extremely respectful of his subjects.

Note that Hopi are from the group of the Pueblo, formerly called Moki, or Moqui.