Original Mid Century Western Pen and Ink "Cowboy and Bronco" by Daniel Cody Muller

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Original Mid Century Pen and Ink on Paper "Cowboy and Bronco" Western Genre

Compelling pen and ink western picture of … Read more Original Mid Century Pen and Ink on Paper "Cowboy and Bronco" Western Genre

Compelling pen and ink western picture of Cowboy wrangling the bronco horse by cowboy genre artist Daniel Cody Muller (American, 1889-1977), circa 1950. The stress and energy of the cowboy and horse is palpable as the horse resists capture by trying to jump the fence as the cowboy in chaps holds the horse back. The dust-up captures movement and effort of both figures beautifully.

Medium: Pen and ink on paper
Signed: Lower left corner "D.C. Muller"
Condition: Some tonal aging consistent with age and wear
Presented in new acid-free mat
Image size: 9.50"H x 14.50"W
Paper size: 10"H x 14.75"W
Mat size: 12"H x 16"W

Dan Muller was born in Choteau Montana on October 11, 1889 to Carl and Augusta Muller. Carl Muller was a quarter-blood Piegan Blackfoot and a freelance scout in Dakota with Buffalo Bill Cody. Dan Muller was raised on the Cross-Up Ranch. He was influenced toward art by meeting Charles M. Russell and was discouraged by his teachers from taking formal art lessons so as to protect his personal style. He traveled in Buffalo Bill shows in 1911-1912 while continuing to draw and paint. In 1917 Muller rode from Canada to Mexico before settling in Elko Nevada.

"Many of Muller's firsthand experiences in the Old West are depicted in his oils, watercolors and pastels. His work is done in a documentary style, which is punctuated with great authenticity. He was careful to portray exact detail in the clothing and gear of his subjects, as well as in the background scenes. He also had a keen knowledge of horseflesh... His paintings are owned by museums and private collectors throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and South America."
(Dorothy Harmsen, 1977, American Western Art)

In WWI he broke horses for the army and taught riding. He later opened a sign shop in Chicago and then in 1920 sold landscapes to tourists in Yellowstone Park. In 1930 in Chicago his Western paintings started to sell and he received commissions for murals for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. Also in 1933 he had a short story with illustrations called Break 'Em Easy published in the premier edition of Esquire Magazine. He returned to Nevada in 1935 and again painted for the tourist trade. He painted murals for the "Town House" restaurant in Reno Nevada. Mr. Muller was married in Elko in 1936.

Dan Muller was featured as a cover artist and short story contributor in several issues of Zane Grey's Western Magazine in the 1940-50's. In the 1960's he contributed cover art work to Old West and Frontier Times magazines. The October issue of Montana Magazine of Western History did an 18 page feature story on Muller which included examples of several of his paintings.

The artist authored four books which included illustrations: Horses in 1936, Chico and the +Up Ranch in 1938, My Life With Buffalo Bill in 1948 and Trailings of Yesteryear which was published posthumously. He also illustrated a 1948 edition of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell and another book Gene Autry and the Thief River Outlaws by Bob Hamilton.

Dan Muller spent the last 40 years or so of his life living and working in Wisconsin where he had a studio. He was a major influence on the artist Ross Stefan. Dan Muller died near Port Washington Wisconsin in December 1976. See less