Cigar Store Indian c. 1941

Harry King made this watercolour painting of a Cigar Store Indian sometime in the 20th century. Look how King's handling of the medium – the washes of colour – creates a sense of flatness. It’s as if the figure and base are collaged together, and the shadows are there to remind us that this is an image rather than an object. The artist has really used colour to get the form right. See how the reddish-brown tones work with the blues in the headdress? It reminds me of the way that Guston would use pinks and reds to create depth and volume, through the interaction of colour. And I love that the base has wheels. It makes me think about how this figure, which represents a particular history, has been repurposed and made mobile. Like art, history is always on the move.