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 a chronicler of the vanishing world of the North American Plains. Born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1809, Bodmer’s life was inextricably linked to adventure and observation, culminating in an extraordinary artistic legacy that continues to resonate today. His early years were steeped in the traditions of his family; his uncle, Johann Jakob Meier, a respected engraver, provided him with a foundat…