Cigar Store Figure c. 1937

Curator: Well, look at this—Chris Makrenos's watercolor and graphite, *Cigar Store Figure*, circa 1937. I think I just fell in love. Editor: It's certainly striking. There’s something unsettling about the fixity of the pose, the slightly unfocused gaze...makes me think of labor and the performative aspect of commerce, particularly when this sort of object was so popular. Curator: That's funny, I see the folk art charm so much more. I mean, he has such character! A gentle solemnity in his expression. Those slightly droopy eyes feel profoundly…human, you know? It's less about a commodified image and more about capturing an inner essence for me. He almost looks like he is about to tell me a secret or invite me for a cup of coffee. Editor: Well, he is inviting you to buy a cigar. These figures were typically carved from wood—mass produced, even—meant to stand outside stores, attracting customers. And it feels really significant that Makrenos chose to render it in watercolor. It's an interesting interplay of folk tradition filtered through a fine art sensibility. Curator: Okay, that makes me wonder: was he fascinated by the objects themselves, these markers of a changing cultural landscape? There's a nostalgic feeling for a particular type of Americana. Almost longing—you know? Like he wants to hold on to something vanishing, just capturing that kind of feeling? Editor: The texture is crucial, right? Think about wood carving—it’s laborious, repetitive work. I wonder about who made them? What were their conditions, and what does it tell us about American tastes at that time? Watercolors, so immediate and accessible. Maybe a way of thinking through production differently, and what happens in terms of recontextualizing. Curator: I am struck how evocative those hands are. They gesture as though beckoning us, almost imploring us to reconsider, and, with just some little changes, this portrait is making a bridge between commerce, fine art, and emotion. I guess I find it refreshing and comforting in our frantic, digital age. It is wonderful! Editor: Indeed, it makes you think of what labor does and means. An engaging image to be certain, for those very considerations.