Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

Walter Hochstrasser made this watercolor of a Cigar Store Indian sometime in the mid-20th century. The color palette is muted, a mix of earthy browns, yellows, and reds, which gives it a nostalgic feel, like an old photograph. You know, looking at this image, I am struck by the interplay between flatness and depth. The artist uses shading and highlights to create a sense of three-dimensionality, especially in the folds of the figure’s dress and the curve of the feathers. But there’s also a deliberate flatness to the overall composition, as if the figure is pressed against the picture plane. The artist's hand is really present in the way he renders the wood grain of the base. It reminds me a little of Marsden Hartley's folk art portraits, which have a similar kind of directness and simplicity. Both artists share an interest in representing their subjects with a sense of dignity and respect, without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. Art, after all, is a conversation, and this piece speaks volumes about the way we see and interpret the world around us.