Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

Walter Hochstrasser, who was born in 1855, made this 'Cigar Store Indian'. The painting is a study of a sculpture – an advert for tobacco, it seems. I'm wondering how Hochstrasser constructed this image. There's something so calm about the palette – the warm browns, greens, and creams. It must have been a patient, thoughtful act. The paint application is smooth and considered, giving form to the carved figure, imbuing it with a soft, hazy light. I like the gentle folds of the skirt, which seem to flow downwards, rooted to the ground. I see a kinship between Hochstrasser’s focus on the materiality of this sculpture and the work of other painters who explore form and texture. This isn’t just representation; it's about Hochstrasser making sense of the world. Artists keep working, keep responding, keep interpreting - it's a conversation across time.