This is an original signed William Reusswig (American, 1902-1978) graphite sketch of a Native American scene on vellum. William (Henry William) Reusswig was born July 22, 1902 in Somerville, New Jersey. His family name is pronounced "rice-wig." His father was Heinrich Wilhelm Reusswig and his mother was Edith (Norton) Reusswig. He graduated from Amherst in June of 1924, and he moved to 360 West 22nd Street in New York City, where he took advanced painting classes at the Art Students League until 1925. He studied with several influential art teachers and befriended many art students, including his future wife, Martha Sawyers. His career begin publishing interior illustrations for Colliers and later illustrating stories for Cosmopolitan, Everybody's, Liberty, Redbook, The Saturday Evening Post, and Country Gentleman. In 1927 he married Martha Sawyers, who was to become a significant author and illustrator. He sold freelance pulp covers to Ace-High, Action Novels, Adventure, All-Fiction, Argosy, Complete Detective, Detective Book, Detective Tales, Dime Detective, The Frontier, Short Stories, War Aces, War Birds, War Stories, West, Western Story, and Wild West Weekly. During World War II he served as Lieutenant Colonel in the U. S. Army in the European Theater of Operations. After the war he drew comic adaptations of classic novels for King Features newspaper syndication, as well as the Book-of-the-Month Club. In the 1950s the Reusswigs moved to New Milford, Connecticut, where they lived in a country home with two spacious art studios on Long Mountain Road. He sold freelance illustrations to men's adventure magazines such as True, Argosy, Sports Afield, and Outdoor Life. He and his wife continued to travel around the world. They produced two collaborative books on the Far East that were published by Grosset & Dunlap in 1961 and 1964. They also kept a New York City apartment at 404 East 66 Street until 1965, when they moved to his wife's hometown in San Antonio, Texas. William Reusswig died in San Antonio at age 75 in June 22, 1978. He is buried in Cuero, Texas. His artwork depicting the American West, Frontier Life, Early American Life, and of Native American life are highly collectible, often being offered at large auction houses. This example shows an original graphite pencil sketch on vellum showing two Native American Warriors or Scouts on horseback in war regalia, one holding a lance spear and shield and the other a rifle and signal mirror both on the edge of a creek and plateau cliff edge. Signed correctly lower right and professionally framed and matted. Provenance: From the Henry and Jean Sjaardema Art Collection. Visible art area measures 9.5” by 14.25” and the frame is 18.75” by 22.75”. Artwork is in good condition with no visible damages, well kept. Frame has a few small blemishes. Back of the frame is marked.