A Swiss Eye on the American West: The Life and Art of Karl Bodmer Johann Carl Bodmer, a name perhaps less familiar than some of his contemporaries, nevertheless holds a unique place in art history as one of the first European artists to meticulously document the landscapes and cultures of the American West. Born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1809, Bodmer’s life was inextricably linked to adventure, scientific inquiry, and a profound respect for the vanishing world he sought to capture on paper. His early years were shaped by his uncle, Johann Jakob Meier, an engraver who instilled in him a rigo…