Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

This 'Cigar Store Indian' was made by Augustine Haugland, likely with watercolor or gouache on paper, and it really pops out at you, doesn’t it? There’s something almost sculptural about the way Haugland renders the figure, giving it a real sense of presence. Looking closely, you see how the textures and colors come together to create something really evocative. The muted pinks and reds in the figure's garments contrast with the sharper blues and whites of the base, creating a tension between the figure and its commercial function. And check out the feathered headdress; each feather is rendered with such care and attention to detail, it gives a real sense of movement and energy. I can see, in the way the colours are built up, layer upon layer, the hand of the artist. This piece reminds me a little of Horace Pippin, another artist who found beauty and power in the everyday. Like Pippin, Haugland’s work has a kind of directness and honesty that really speaks to me. It’s a reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.