Karl Bodmer
Karl Bodmer, (February 6, 1809-October 30, 1893), was a Swiss
painter of the American West. He accompanied German explorer Maximilian
zu Wied-Neuwied in 1832 through 1834 on his Missouri River expedition.
He was hired as an artist by Maximilian with the specific intent
of traveling through the American West and recording images of the
different tribes they saw along the way. When the expedition was
complete, he returned to Germany with Prince Maximilian, then traveled
to France. In Paris he had many scenes from the expedition (81 total)
reproduced as aquatints. The Prince had these images incorporated
into his book, Travels in the Interior of North America published
in London in 1839. After returning to Europe, he lived in Barbizon,
France, where he became a French citizen. At that point he changed
his name to "Charles Bodmer". Today the majority of his
originals are located in three collections spread across the United
States, with the majority of them located at the Joselyn Art Museum
in Omaha, Nebraska.
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