Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

Editor: This watercolor drawing by Ray Price, titled "Cigar Store Indian," dates back to around 1937. I'm struck by the almost doll-like quality of the figure, its formal pose and muted colors make it appear frozen in time. What do you see in this piece? Curator: More than a simple portrait, this work reflects the complex and often fraught relationship between cultures and commerce. These figures, historically placed outside tobacconists, perpetuated harmful stereotypes of Indigenous people, reducing them to commodities. Have you considered its cultural context? Editor: I hadn’t thought about that. So, the artist, by depicting this "Cigar Store Indian," is commenting on the history of appropriation and commercial exploitation? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to question how Indigenous identity has been constructed and consumed by the dominant culture. It's important to understand that, from a postcolonial lens, seemingly innocuous representations like this one, carry a heavy weight. What elements strike you as most telling in its presentation? Editor: Maybe the figure's stiff posture and the simplified, almost cartoonish details. It definitely sanitizes any real cultural meaning. I guess it reveals the way such figures functioned as flattened symbols. Curator: Yes, this sanitization plays directly into the larger narrative of erasure that has historically affected Indigenous communities. Consider the objectification embedded in this form. Editor: It's disturbing to think about it this way. I always thought these figures were simply historical artifacts. I now recognize they embody so much more. Curator: Understanding the layers of history, power, and representation interwoven in seemingly simple images is essential. We can challenge assumptions and promote more equitable and accurate representation of diverse communities. Editor: This was such a helpful way to examine an image I would have easily glanced over! It's definitely broadened my perspective.