Cigar Store Figure c. 1937

Walter Hochstrasser painted "Cigar Store Figure" with what seems to be a combination of thin, washy layers and more deliberate, opaque strokes. I imagine Hochstrasser, brush in hand, circling the sculpture, trying to catch its essence, its silent sales pitch. What did it feel like to recreate this figure so full of character and texture? Look at the colors: that deep burgundy of the trousers, the glints of gold on the trim, and the way the face is both inviting and a little mysterious. The artist’s marks bring out the contours of the figure, highlighting the wood grain and the wear and tear of time, as if the painting is whispering stories of smoke-filled rooms and long forgotten advertisements. Painters are always borrowing, remixing, and riffing off each other's ideas, even if they don't realize it. This piece reminds us of the ongoing conversation between artists across time, each adding their own voice to the chorus.