Cigar Store Indian 1935 - 1942

Henry Murphy made this 'Cigar Store Indian' at some point, using watercolour and graphite on paper. Look closely, and you'll see how the artist layers subtle washes of earthy tones to build the form of the figure. There's a real sense of process here, of the artist feeling their way through the image. I'm drawn to the way the light catches the figure's face. Murphy uses delicate strokes to model the contours of the nose, cheekbones, and brow, creating a sense of depth and presence. The feathers on the headdress are rendered with the same attention to detail. See how the artist uses contrasting shades of blue, brown, and gold to create a sense of movement and texture. The beads, each seems to catch its own light. You know, there's a slightly ghostly quality to this work. It reminds me a little of Fairfield Porter, another artist interested in light, but with a folksy edge. Ultimately, this is an image that invites us to look beyond the surface and consider the stories embedded within.