Cigar Store Man 1937

Alvin Gully made this watercolor, Cigar Store Man, sometime around the late twentieth century. I am struck by the rendering of the statue, the way Gully meticulously captures the play of light and shadow on its surface. You can almost feel the smooth, slightly worn texture of the painted wood, and you can imagine the way he might have spent time observing it. He creates a sense of depth through delicate washes of color, and each layer builds up a rich, almost luminous surface. This isn't just a flat representation; it's like he's trying to embody the very essence of the object. Check out the base and the way he suggests the weight with subtle gradations of tone. It reminds me a bit of some of Fairfield Porter's paintings, that same quiet intensity. What I love about Gully's work is that it reminds us art is not just about grand statements, but the beauty and meaning we find in the everyday.