View on the Mississippi

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Artist

Karl Bodmer

Birth and death dates

1809 - 1893

Artist Nationality

Swiss

Title

View on the Mississippi

Date

January 1833

Dimensions

6 7/16 × 8 3/4 in. (16.4 × 22.2 cm)

Medium

Watercolor on paper

Institution

Joslyn Art Museum

Credit Line

Gift of the Enron Art Foundation

Accession Number

1986.49.91

Rights (i.e. copyright information)

Joslyn Art Museum

Photographer credit

Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

Commentary

A restless and meandering river, the Mississippi has changed its course many times in the years since Bodmer traveled it. Along its winding channel are numerous old bends that at one time were part of the main course of the river but are now cut off from it. Thus it is difficult to place some of Bodmer's views of the Mississippi without the aid of a dated inscription or other identification. Sketching such scenes not only helped Bodmer to pass the time on shipboard, but were also done to document the appearance of the Mississippi below the mouth of the Ohio for the benefit of Prince Maximilian, who did not see it for himself

References in Journal

February 15, 1833

Labels:

genre, riverscape , Mississippi River

Approximate Depicted Location:

Mississippi River