Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

Walter Hochstrasser made this watercolor painting of a Cigar Store Indian, but we don’t know when. The first thing that strikes me about this piece is its cool color palette, dominated by muted grays and browns, that gives it a vintage feel, like an old photograph or faded memory. I try to imagine Hochstrasser at work, layering washes of color to capture the texture and form of the wooden sculpture. What was he thinking as he painted? Was he reflecting on the history of these figures and their cultural significance? The wood grain is visible beneath the painted surface, adding depth and character to the piece. It reminds me how much the history of painting is a conversation between artists and the art that came before them. Each gesture, each brushstroke, is a response to what has been done, while also opening up new possibilities for what can be.