Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

Charles Bowman made this watercolor on paper, “Cigar Store Indian.” The artist has used mainly earthy tones, with a limited palette that gives the figure a somewhat wooden, even mannequin-like quality. You can see the artist's hand in the way the figure is rendered. I imagine Bowman carefully laying down each layer of color, building up the form with delicate washes. The texture of the paper peeks through in places. That hand shielding the eyes, the gaze turned outward: it's an invitation. What do you see, painted Native American woman? The cape sweeps back, a burst of red against the muted palette. It’s a gesture echoed in those plumes fanning out from her head. Artists are always looking, always taking notes, always in conversation with those who came before, and those who will come after. And, as viewers, we join that dialogue each time we bring our own experiences to a work of art. It is a site for exchange, connection, and the ongoing creation of meaning.