Cigar Store Indian c. 1936

Walter Hochstrasser painted this Cigar Store Indian, but we don’t know exactly when or why. Looking at it, I'm trying to imagine the act of painting itself, how it all came together, shifting and emerging through trial, error, and intuition. I can really sympathize with Hochstrasser. What was he thinking when he made this? I see that he’s included a full range of browns and muted greens. Check out the texture of the feathers, and how that contrast with the smoothness of the face. It makes me think of all the abstract painters in history. That raised arm and hand tells a story. So much can be said with just one single gesture, intention, or meaning. Artists are always talking to each other across time, you know? Exchanging ideas and inspiring one another’s creativity. Painting really is about expression that embraces ambiguity, isn't it? It allows for endless interpretations, and readings that evolve over time.