Tea Store Figure c. 1937

Chris Makrenos, born in 1855, made this painting titled, 'Tea Store Figure' sometime during his lifetime using what looks like watercolour. It's like he's trying to figure out this character, this figure, by painting it. The golden-brown wash gives it a kind of old-timey sepia feel, but there are subtle colour variations and some brighter colours in the headpiece and beaded necklace, that keep it from being dull. You get the sense that Makrenos may have painted this from life, or maybe he knew it really well. I mean, just imagine him, sitting there with his brushes, trying to capture the exact shape of the hat, or the way the light catches the side of the face. The paint is applied thinly, allowing the paper's texture to peek through, adding a tactile quality. What does the figure in the painting hold in their hand, and what does it symbolize? This is a conversation between artists and viewers, stretching across time.