Translating the Field: The Abundance of Possibilities in Maria Czaplicka's Siberian Expedition (1914–1915) Photographs

The University of Oxford Siberian expedition (1914–1915) led by Maria Czaplicka brought to the United Kingdom knowledge and objects from the little-known Yenise region in Siberia. The photographs taken during this expedition exemplify the uncertain role of photography in anthropology at this time and speak of the possibilities afforded by the abundance of the medium. Comparing the photographic outputs of the expedition to those of the first British generation of field-working ethnographers and Arctic explorers, this article examines early ethnographic photography as a form of translation aimed at diverse audiences.