Early European and Euro-American artists documented the land, people, flora, and fauna of western North America. These artists gave Europeans and eastern Americans their first glimpse of the west. Because artists were important to the early explorers and topographers of the west, this document advocates study of western art and artists as an integrated part of studying the history of the North American west. The document presents a brief survey of important western artists from 1778 to 1975. Information is given regarding World Wide Web sites that allow visual access to western art collections. Contains a 44-item reading list. (MM)