Cigar Store Figure c. 1937

Florian Rokita made this compelling portrait of a 'Cigar Store Figure' on paper, but at no recorded time. I am really drawn to the way Rokita is working here. I can see these marks as a kind of dance – a playful negotiation between intention and chance. The colours are muted, earthy - it's a painting of a sculpture, so it makes sense. Look at the cracks in the wood around the neck, the way these are integrated into the design, and create texture and volume on the otherwise flat surface. There's a real push-pull between the real and the representation. I'm reminded of Red Grooms with his cardboard cut-out cityscapes, blurring the lines between painting and sculpture. It's not about a fixed meaning, but more about a space for endless conversations.