Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

Walter Hochstrasser’s “Cigar Store Indian” is a watercolor painting depicting a wooden carving of a Native American man, a popular sign in the 19th and early 20th centuries, in front of a white background. The figure wears traditional clothing and headdress with intricate details. The base of the carving is inscribed with the words “Pony Aviator” and is likely an advertisement for a brand of cigars or tobacco. The painting is a representation of the widespread use of Native American imagery in American advertising and culture, which continues to be a source of controversy and debate. The piece is a valuable documentation of the visual culture of the era, and serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between the American West and its Indigenous peoples.