Cigar Store Figure 1935 - 1942

Albert Ryder made this ‘Cigar Store Figure’, it looks like it's paint on paper. Ryder seems to be finding his way as he paints. You can see his process, the colors are applied with purpose and care. The texture of the paint is flat and matte, it invites you to get up close, and the more you look the more he gives. The red, gold and white colors are layered so they blend into one another, creating depth and visual interest. My eye is drawn to the face and the little, dark cigarette hanging from his mouth; it makes me want to know his story. The piece has a naive quality that reminds me of Red Grooms, but with less cartoonish flare. Both artists remind us that art is a conversation across time, where each artist adds to the dialogue in their unique way. Ultimately, Ryder's ‘Cigar Store Figure’ celebrates the beauty of art as a continuous journey of self-discovery and expression.