Although crucial to Henderson’s artistic process, photography is never mentioned in the many newspaper articles about his portraits, perhaps because it may have, by the standards of the time, contradicted the romantic notion of him as a painter directly engaged with his subjects. Henderson was a good if not accomplished photographer in both the documentary and Pictorialist manner and used these photographs as the basis or reference points for both portraits and landscapes. As well, he had reference books in his studio including, American Indian Life, edited by Elsie Clews Parson and illustrated by Grant Lafarge, an important anthology of pieces about Indian life and cultures. He may also have been aware of Morris’s use of photography in his project and certainly of the photographs of Edward Curtis in The North American Indian. Interestingly, Curtis corresponded with Gooderham, and was photographing the Blackfoot in Alberta in 1924 including Bull Bear, who was painted by Henderson in 1923. Curtis was also in Northern Saskatchewan to photograph the Cree in 1926.
James Henderson (from left)
Eliza Rider and Child, c. 1930
vintage gelatin silver print with graphite grid on paper
14.6 x 8.6 cm
Collection of Diane Morris, Fort Qu’Appelle, SK.
Photograph of a James Henderson painting: Eliza Rider and Child, c. 1930
gelatin silverprint with graphite grid on paper
15.1 x 12.2 cm
Collection of Diane Morris, Fort Qu’Appelle, SK.
Portrait of Eliza Rider and Child (Dakota), 1930
oil on canvas
77.0 x 61.0 cm
University of Saskatchewan Art Collection, purchased from the artist, 1930.
James Henderson (from left)
Portrait of Weasel Calf, 1924
Oil on canvas
60.0 x 45.0 cm
University of Saskatchewan Art Collection. Purchased from the artist, 1924.
Attributed to James Henderson
Weasel Calf, Blackfoot posing at Gleichen, Alberta (c. 1923) and an Interior of Henderson’s Studio (c. 1930),
Digital print from R. C. Russell album
Courtesy of Lorna Russell and Clint Hunker, Saskatoon, SK.
Chief Weasel Calf (A Sioux), c. 1924
Oil on canvas
61.6 x 46.4 cm
MacKenzie Art Gallery, University of Regina Collection. Gift of the Women’s Educational Club.
Attributed to James Henderson
Weasel Calf, Blackfoot posing at Gleichen, Alberta (c. 1923) and an Interior of Henderson’s Studio (c. 1930),
Digital print from R. C. Russell album
Courtesy of Lorna Russell and Clint Hunker, Saskatoon, SK.
James Henderson (from left)
Blackfoot man posing at Gleichen, Alberta, c. 1923
digital print from C.R. Russell Album
Courtesy of Lorna Russell and Clint Hunker, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Male Indian Head (Blackfoot), c. 1923
oil on cardboard
25.3 x 20.2 cm
MacKenzie Art Gallery, University of Regina Collection, gift of Mr. Norman MacKenzie.
James Henderson (from left)
T. Charmbury
Imasees, Little Bear, Cree., ca. 1885
Archival Photograph
Courtesy of the Glenbow-Alberta Institute, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB.
Chief Little Bear (ayimâsis), c. 1924
oil on wood panel
22.9 x 19 cm
Collection of the Glenbow-Alberta Institute, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB.
James Henderson (from top left)
Portrait of Many Chiefs, 1927
oil on canvas
77.0 x 61.0 cm
University of Saskatchewan Art Collection, purchased from the artist, 1927.
Many Chiefs, Peigan Indian, c. 1927
oil on canvas
61.5 x 46.0 cm
Collection of the Glenbow-Alberta Institute, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB.
Many Chiefs, c. 1927
oil on canvas
61.5 x 46.0 cm
Collection of the Glenbow-Alberta Institute, Glenbow Museum, Calgary, AB.
