Fort Union on the Missouri 

Karl Bodmer made this watercolor painting, Fort Union on the Missouri, with paper and pigment. The effect is airy and immediate, but don't let the apparent ease fool you. Watercolors are notoriously difficult, requiring a deft hand to avoid muddying the colors. Bodmer was commissioned to document the American West, and this scene captures the meeting of cultures at a fur trading post. The fort itself, rendered in muted tones, stands in stark contrast to the vibrant figures of the Native Americans in the foreground. Their clothing, horses, and tipis, all meticulously depicted, speak to a deep understanding of materials and making. The image also speaks to a complex history of trade and exchange, as the Native Americans trade their craft work for European goods, subtly capturing the impact of expanding global markets on indigenous communities. By focusing on the details of making, Bodmer invites us to consider the human labor and cultural exchange that shaped the American West.