Richard Stefani (1933–2022)
From Before the Water Rose: Celilo Falls, 1956
The tools tell part of the story.
A large dip net lies across the foreground platform. Another rests beside a fisherman working below. Beyond him, more wooden platforms project over the river, each positioned in relation to rock and current.
Richard Stefani photographed the scene from above.
That elevated viewpoint changes what we are able to understand.
Instead of confronting the falls head-on, we look down upon an intricate working environment. Platforms overlap. Wooden supports descend toward the water. Nets appear enormous when laid flat. Fishermen occupy different positions across the rocks.
And through all of it moves the Columbia.
The photograph has an almost architectural quality.
Richard seems interested not only in what people are doing, but in how the entire place works.
That makes this image particularly valuable within the larger series. Celilo's fishing platforms were not incidental objects placed beside the river. Their position, construction, and use were intimately related to the water itself.
We should resist claiming more than the photograph tells us until our historical research is complete.
But the photograph tells us quite a lot.
Fishing at Celilo required tools.
It required structures.
It required physical knowledge of the river.
And it required people who knew how all of those things belonged together.
Richard's camera preserved the relationship.
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
The tools tell part of the story.
A large dip net lies across the foreground platform. Another rests beside a fisherman working below. Beyond him, more wooden platforms project over the river, each positioned in relation to rock and current.
Richard Stefani photographed the scene from above.
That elevated viewpoint changes what we are able to understand.
Instead of confronting the falls head-on, we look down upon an intricate working environment. Platforms overlap. Wooden supports descend toward the water. Nets appear enormous when laid flat. Fishermen occupy different positions across the rocks.
And through all of it moves the Columbia.
The photograph has an almost architectural quality.
Richard seems interested not only in what people are doing, but in how the entire place works.
That makes this image particularly valuable within the larger series. Celilo's fishing platforms were not incidental objects placed beside the river. Their position, construction, and use were intimately related to the water itself.
We should resist claiming more than the photograph tells us until our historical research is complete.
But the photograph tells us quite a lot.
Fishing at Celilo required tools.
It required structures.
It required physical knowledge of the river.
And it required people who knew how all of those things belonged together.
Richard's camera preserved the relationship.
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.
