Cigar Store Indian c. 1941

Violet Hartenstein painted this ‘Cigar Store Indian’ sometime during her life, using watercolor. And you can tell it’s watercolor, right? It’s that see-through, washy, stain-like quality. She gets so much information with very little paint, it’s economical. Look at that yellow dress, those little sunbursts around the hem, they’re just scribbled in, but so evocative of the garment. The surface feels flat and matte, like the paper is breathing. And those colors. They are really singing! I’m struck by her naive, flat style, which reminds me a bit of the work of Bill Traylor. Both artists share a directness and a way of capturing form with minimal fuss, but Hartenstein’s work has an elegance and sophistication that is all her own. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, a dialogue across time and styles, where each artist brings their unique voice to the table. It leaves you wondering, how many ways can we really see the world?