The Old Print Shop

Mexkemahuastan. Chief of the Gros-ventres des Prairies. Vig. XX.

  • ARTIST: Karl Bodmer

  • PUBLISHER: Ackermann & Co. London.

  • MEDIUM: Aquatint engraving , printed in color and finished by hand.

    DATE: 1843-44.

  • EDITION SIZE: Vignette. Plate size 12 9/16 x 9 1/16" 31.7 x 23 cm plus wide margins.

  • DESCRIPTION: A handsome portrait of Mexkemahuastan (Sitting Iron) that appeared in the "Travels in The Interior of North America" by Maximilian, Prince of Wied-Neuwied. In 1832, the German prince, Maximilian of Wied, organized an expedition to explore the region along the Missouri River. He was accompanied by Karl Bodmer, a young Swiss artist, who recorded in pictorial form all he observed. Following the Lewis & Clark trail up the Missouri River, they traveled 5,000 miles during the course of a year. Maximilian kept detailed notes on a day-by-day basis for his book, which was published c.1839-44 in Coblenz and London. Karl Bodmer's landscapes, portraits, and splendid scenes of Indian life are regarded today as the finest picture histories of the western frontier at that time. Mexkemahuastan was one of several chiefs that boarded the travelers keelboat at the Atsina camp on August 5 August 1833. Engraved by Hirlimann <br><br>

  • ADDITIONAL INFO: Second or two states, with the addition of the date.

  • CONDITION: Good condition save for some minor tears in the outer margins. Modern hand coloring.

  • REFERENCE: Ruud, "Karl Bodmer's North American Prints" Vignette XX.