Cigar Store Indian c. 1938

Orville Cline made this striking image of a Cigar Store Indian using watercolor on paper. I can imagine the artist at work in his studio, carefully mixing ochres, browns, and grays, trying to capture the three-dimensional form of the original wooden sculpture. I wonder what was going through Cline's mind as he painted? Did he see this figure as a symbol of a bygone era, or as a complex representation of cultural exchange and appropriation? Look closely and you can see how the watercolor paint is applied in thin, translucent washes, allowing the paper's surface to shine through. Cline’s method really emphasizes the play of light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and volume. The figure is stoic and majestic. The upward thrust of the right arm holding a cigar evokes a sense of authority and power. In Cline’s rendition, the sculpture almost takes on a life of its own, transcending its original function as a mere advertisement.