Cigar Store Figure c. 1937

Walter Hochstrasser, born in 1855, made this intriguing 'Cigar Store Figure' at some point during his career. What strikes me is the painting style; Hochstrasser's brushwork gives a real sense of form, especially in the figure's draped clothing. The color palette, those muted reds, greens, and browns, feels both classical and slightly surreal, like a memory fading at the edges. The base of the statue grounds the piece. Notice the initials, “F.J.” – they give the statue a sense of history and perhaps a story. Are they the artists, or the shopkeepers initials? What does it all mean? I'm reminded of artists like Red Grooms, who also played with Americana in his work, twisting the familiar into something slightly off-kilter and deeply engaging. It leaves you with questions rather than answers, which, for me, is the sign of art doing its job.