1959 “Who's Boss?” Cowboy & Bear Decide by Art Brown

Who’s Boss? captures a tense and rugged moment in the high country. A cowboy on horseback leads a string of heavily loaded pack mules up a steep, uneven hill. The rocky terrain is dotted with sparse trees and brush, with a mountainous wilderness stretching into the background. As the group struggles upward, a massive bear waits at the plateau’s edge, while two more bears watch from the side—an unexpected and potentially dangerous encounter in this remote setting.

This is a 1959 reproduction of an original etching by Montana cowboy artist Art Brown. Born in 1911 and raised near Great Falls, Brown grew up on a working cattle ranch and developed his drawing style through constant practice. His art—often humorous, sometimes gritty—reflected the real-life experiences of cowboys and frontiersmen. Though he lived a modest life and often bartered his work, Brown’s sketches have been compared to those of Charles Russell for their authenticity and insight into Western life.