Iron Horse Gunsmoke, paperback cover 1965

"Iron Horse Gunsmoke" is a 1965 paperback cover illustration by American artist Victor Prezio, known for his Western art. The painting depicts a lone cowboy standing beneath a large, gnarled tree, holding a revolver and watching a rider gallop away into a fiery sunset. The dramatic lighting and atmospheric use of color create a sense of suspense and danger, fitting for the Wild West genre. This illustration captures the spirit of the classic Western novel, a popular genre in the 1960s. Prezio's work for the paperback market helped shape the visual identity of Westerns in the mid-20th century.