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Show CHAPTER ONE TABLEAU 25, IDOLS OF THE MANDAN INDIANS : METAMORPHOSIS FROM WATERCOLOR TO AQUATINT By the time Maximilian and Bodmer returned to Europe, Bodmer had accumulated over 400 watercolors and sketches in his portfolio. These included detailed renderings of many of the natural history specimens Maximilian had examined during the expedition, as well as portraits, landscapes, numerous sketches of a variety of Indian activities, and a number of fully developed watercolors of Indian related subjects. The collection was dazzling, an amazing effort that combined beauty and photographic accuracy in a fresh and innovative style. Karl Bodmer's American Portfolio It is important to note which of these paintings and sketches were selected for reproduction into aquatint, since it provides some insight into the objectives Maximilian and Bodmer hoped to accomplish with their travelbook. The subject matter of the complete portfolio represented a detailed record of the entire expedition and contained considerably more material than was finally reproduced for the published account of the journey. The final selection of subjects that were included in Travels shifted the emphasis of |
