W.H.D. Koerner (1878-1938)
Summer Hand
oil on canvas
26 x 36 inches
34 x 44 inches (frame)
signed lower right: W.H.D. Koerner
verso: inscribed "Man or Mouse: whose name's Jessie May and wherever did you get it? I demanded, for I thought he was [illegible]."

W.H.D. Koerner, celebrated as a prolific illustrator of the American West, immigrated from Germany to Iowa in 1880. After honing his skills as a newspaper illustrator in Chicago, he studied at the Chicago Art Institute and the Art Students League in New York. A major step in Koerner's career occurred when he was accepted for formal instruction by Howard Pyle, the famed illustrator who had also taught N.C. Wyeth.

In 1919, Koerner settled in Interlaken, New Jersey, and embarked on extensive travels across the Western United States, capturing the essence of cowboy life and Native American culture. His illustrations graced works by authors such as Zane Grey and Hal G. Evarts, solidifying his fame during the peak of his career in the 1920s.

The painting appears to be in good condition. Under UV examination, there is no evidence of restoration or inpainting.