Cigar Store Figure c. 1937

Walter Hochstrasser made this tempera on paper. It is called ‘Cigar Store Figure’, and was painted sometime during his lifetime, between 1855-1995. It's got these warm reds, golds, and creams. The figure’s got a real attitude, standing there with his arms crossed like he owns the place. You can almost feel the artist, Hochstrasser, carefully building up the layers, trying to capture the essence of this proud, mustachioed man. I imagine Hochstrasser, mixing his paints, trying to get that perfect shade of red for the pants, that subtle cream for the jacket, and that thick black for the moustache. The strokes feel deliberate, each one adding to the character's presence. You see his posture, his expression, even the way the light catches on the gold trim of his uniform, everything tells a story. Artists see things in each other's work, they inspire each other. It's an ongoing conversation across time. Painting is an expression of the world and the artist's reaction to it, with endless ways to interpret.