Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

Harry Mann Waddell made this watercolor painting, Cigar Store Indian, on paper. The dark olive green tones feel grounded, earthy, and then there’s that bright ochre cape which seems to vibrate. I imagine Harry carefully laying down thin washes of color, allowing the image to emerge slowly, organically, almost like a photograph developing in a darkroom. I’m sympathetic to Harry and I wonder what it might have been like to make this painting, maybe he was thinking about the history and cultural significance of these figures, and how they were used as advertisements. The surface seems smooth, and the paint is applied in thin, even layers, creating a sense of depth and volume. I really like the way the light reflects off the ochre cape, giving the figure a radiant glow. The way Harry uses color and shading to create a sense of depth reminds me a bit of Edward Hopper. Artists are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity. Painting embraces ambiguity allowing for multiple interpretations.