The Old Print Shop

View of Mauch-Chunk (Pennsylvania). Vig.V.

  • ARTIST: Karl Bodmer

  • PUBLISHER: Ackermann & Co. London.

  • MEDIUM: Aquatint engraving, hand colored,

    DATE: 1843-44.

  • EDITION SIZE: Vignette 7 1/4 x 10 5/8" (183 x 270mm).

  • DESCRIPTION: From "Travels in the Interior of North America" by Maximilian, Prince of Wied-Neuweid. Scarce aquatint engraving after Karl Bodmer. From the Atlas accompanying Prince Maximilian of Weid's "Reise in das Innere Nord-America in den Jahren 1832 bis 1834." Published Coblenz, Paris and London, 1839-41. Bodmer, a trained Swiss artist, accompanied Maximilian's expedition up the Missouri River in 1833-34 to create a pictorial reocrd of the landscape and Indian life encountered. The 81 engravings that resulted are considered by most experts to be the finest artistic record of the american plains tribes ever executed. Fewer than 1,000 sets are thought to have been done. The same copper plates were used for all editions. The party travelled on the American Fur Company's Yellowstone, the first steamer to ascend the Missouri River as far as Fort Pierre. From there they proceeded to Fort Union on the smaller Assiniboin, and thence to Fort McKenzie by keelboat. After a month, the expedition returned to Fort Clark to winter among the Mandans. Thirteen months after their departure, Maximilian and Bodmer returned to St. Louis. It took four more years before Maximilian's scientific account and Bodmer's magnificent engravings were published. Today Maximilian's journal and field notes and Bodmer's watercolors are owned by the Northern Natural Gas Company of Omaha, where they are on exhibit at the Joslyn Art Museum.

  • ADDITIONAL INFO: With Bodmer blind stamp.

  • CONDITION: Good condition and color save light foxing.

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