Cigar Store Figure c. 1937

Florian Rokita painted this watercolor, Cigar Store Figure, on paper, and I can only imagine the thoughts behind it. The cracks of the wood grain become this figure’s own scars or wrinkles. It’s like Rokita found a broken sculpture and then chose to highlight its pre-existing shapes through their painting. This close up of the head and shoulders gives the sculpture new life by pulling the viewer into an intimate proximity with the figure. What kind of conversation was Rokita having with the object while they worked? Were they thinking about painting or sculpting? The two mediums become so entwined, it’s difficult to tease them apart! This work emphasizes how artists are always bouncing ideas off each other, and how the best painting can take you by surprise.