Cigar Store Figure c. 1937

"Cigar Store Figure" is a watercolor painting by Walter Hochstrasser, created around 1937. This painting depicts a wooden figure of a man in a military uniform, standing at attention with his arms crossed. These figures, often carved from wood and painted in vibrant colors, were a common sight outside of cigar shops in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Hochstrasser's meticulous attention to detail captures the realism and charm of these traditional folk art figures, often used as advertising for local businesses.