John C. Frémont was the most celebrated explorer of his era. After Congress published Frémont's official report of his 1842 expedition, few doubted the nation should expand to the Pacific. The first in-depth study of this remarkable report, Sight Unseen argues that Frémont used both a radical form of art and an imaginary map to create an aesthetic desire for expansion.
Andrew Menard is an independent writer, artist, and critic. His work has appeared in the Georgia Review,¿Antioch Review, the New England Quarterly, Western American Literature, Journal of American Studies, and Oxford Art Journal. He is the author of Learning from Thoreau.
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