Richard Stefani (1933–2022)
From Before the Water Rose: Celilo Falls, 1956
This may become one of the most important photographs in the Celilo archive.
Not because it is the most dramatic.
Because of who is in it.
Boys and young men occupy almost every part of Richard Stefani's frame. Some hold long poles. Several handle nets. One young man at left appears to hold a fish. Others sit or stand among the rocks, watching or participating.
There are adults visible too, but youth dominates the photograph.
And that changes the story.
Much of the visual power of Before the Water Rose comes from knowing what happened only months after Richard made these photographs. The falls would be submerged. The physical landscape would change profoundly.
But this photograph complicates any temptation to treat Celilo only as something that ended.
Here we see another generation.
We see young people within the working environment of the river, surrounded by tools, structures and other people.
Without additional historical testimony, we should not claim precisely what each person was learning or doing. The photograph alone cannot tell us.
But it can show us participation.
It can show us proximity.
It can show us generations occupying the same place.
That matters enormously.
Richard's camera caught something larger than a fishing scene.
It caught continuity.
Estate Edition
Printed from Richard Stefani's original 1956 color negative.
Chromogenic photographic print on Fuji Crystal Archive DP II paper, produced in Germany and mounted under matte, reflection-reducing acrylic glass with aluminum Dibond backing. Presented in a handcrafted Basel black oak floater frame. Ready to hang.
Each work is accompanied by Richard Stefani Estate documentation recording the photograph, edition number, edition size, production specifications, and provenance.
10 × 10 in.
Edition of 25
$1,500
20 × 20 in.
Edition of 15
$3,200
30 × 30 in.
Edition of 10
$6,500
Edition sizes are fixed and will not be increased.
Richard Stefani (1933–2022)
From Before the Water Rose: Celilo Falls, 1956
This may become one of the most important photographs in the Celilo archive.
Not because it is the most dramatic.
Because of who is in it.
Boys and young men occupy almost every part of Richard Stefani's frame. Some hold long poles. Several handle nets. One young man at left appears to hold a fish. Others sit or stand among the rocks, watching or participating.
There are adults visible too, but youth dominates the photograph.
And that changes the story.
Much of the visual power of Before the Water Rose comes from knowing what happened only months after Richard made these photographs. The falls would be submerged. The physical landscape would change profoundly.
But this photograph complicates any temptation to treat Celilo only as something that ended.
Here we see another generation.
We see young people within the working environment of the river, surrounded by tools, structures and other people.
Without additional historical testimony, we should not claim precisely what each person was learning or doing. The photograph alone cannot tell us.
But it can show us participation.
It can show us proximity.
It can show us generations occupying the same place.
That matters enormously.
Richard's camera caught something larger than a fishing scene.
It caught continuity.
Estate Edition
Printed from Richard Stefani's original 1956 color negative.
Chromogenic photographic print on Fuji Crystal Archive DP II paper, produced in Germany and mounted under matte, reflection-reducing acrylic glass with aluminum Dibond backing. Presented in a handcrafted Basel black oak floater frame. Ready to hang.
Each work is accompanied by Richard Stefani Estate documentation recording the photograph, edition number, edition size, production specifications, and provenance.
10 × 10 in.
Edition of 25
$1,500
20 × 20 in.
Edition of 15
$3,200
30 × 30 in.
Edition of 10
$6,500
Edition sizes are fixed and will not be increased.
