Studio Navajo Woman Portrait

Studio portrait by Christain Barthelmes

This photograph is titled “Red Stocking- Navajo Woman” and is a studio portrait by Christain Barthelmess. I really love this photograph fo the way she is adorned.  Though a studio portrait, she is depicting  the true essence of a Navajo female in terms of Navajo philosophy and identity.

She is dressed in post Long Walk clothing via her floral cotton tiered skirt and collared blouse. She has a Pendelton type shawl over her and is adorned in silver and I’m sure turquoise and coral. Her fingers are adorned with various silver ring bands. She also wears a silver squash blossom necklace with turquoise choker and silver buttons on her shirt.

The other reason I wanted to address this photo is because of the title handwritten on the photo itself which reads “Navajo Squaw.” This term might have been a societal norm and accepted in the era it was photographed, but really it is a disrespectful, rude and non-acceptable term to use in the 21^st century. In early days of American society this derogatory term was used by men, but it should never be used ever to address an Indigenous woman.