Take the VIDEO TOUR of Karl Bodmer's original watercolors.

We regard Karl Bodmer’s 1832 – 1834 original watercolors of the American Indian to be the most important, beautiful and compelling images of the Plains Indian tribes. Upon returning to Europe, Bodmer devoted ten years to translating his pencil studies and watercolors to engravings. Working with a team of thirty engravers, he incorporated the information from Maximilian’s comprehensive notes and journals to produce composite images depicting important events in the lives of Native Americans who were his subjects. Bodmer’s North American prints were well known and highly regarded in Europe where they significantly influenced contemporary views of Native Americans and the United States.

Bison-Dance of the Mandan Indians, in front of their Medicine Lodge is Tableau 18 of Bodmer and Maximilian’s Travels in the Interior of North America, 1832 – 34. It depicts a charged moment from a performance of the dance by members of the Mandan Buffalo Bull Society seen by Bodmer at Ft. Clark in April of 1834.

Our Perfect Recreation™ of this action-packed ceremony is indistinguishable from the valuable original hand-colored engraving in the collection of Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. We’re thrilled to make it possible for you to own, view and appreciate this exciting and powerful work.

"Real Bodmers aren't for sale, but stunning re-creations are." The Omaha World-Herald praised our "high-resolution, painstakingly detailed reproductions of eight of Bodmer's most famous watercolors". Read the complete article

Framing your Bodmers