Cigar Store Indian 1935 - 1942

Editor: So this watercolor and colored pencil piece is "Cigar Store Indian," created by Einar Heiberg between 1935 and 1942. The figure is vibrant, almost like folk art. It’s compelling. What do you see in this work from a historical perspective? Curator: It's more than just a depiction, it reflects a complex socio-political reality. These figures, mass-produced and highly visible, advertised tobacco shops but they also served as a constant, visual reminder of colonial power dynamics and the romanticized "vanishing race" narrative which was popular at the time. Editor: The “vanishing race” narrative? Curator: Exactly. While superficially appearing to celebrate Indigenous people, such imagery reinforced a narrative that erased the ongoing struggles, resilience, and contemporary existence of Native American communities. The use of "Indian" is itself an artifact of colonial naming practices, isn't it? How do you feel that effects contemporary Indigenous groups. Editor: That’s a good point, I guess it must be upsetting. The commercial function, as advertising, feels especially problematic now. It strips away any real cultural meaning. Curator: Precisely. By understanding the cultural and historical context, we can read beyond the image and critically examine its role in perpetuating stereotypes and historical erasures. What has really interested you with this painting? Editor: Definitely the context. I had never really considered how those kinds of figures have roots in a troubling cultural narrative. I guess it’s a stark reminder that art isn't created in a vacuum. Curator: Exactly. It's our role to examine art's engagement with history, and how it might actively construct narratives, reflect or reshape them.