Cigar Store Indian c. 1937

"Cigar Store Indian" is a watercolor painting by Dorothy Handy, created in 1937. The painting depicts a Native American figure, a popular form of storefront advertisement in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Standing on a pedestal, the figure is clad in traditional attire, including a feathered headdress and a fringed skirt. The figure's stoic pose and realistic details showcase Handy's talent for capturing human form and cultural representation. While the image of the "Cigar Store Indian" is a common trope in American art, Handy's watercolor approach provides a unique perspective on this historical artifact.