“If smoking is not allowed in heaven, I shall not go.” — Mark Twain
Behike Cohiba Cuban Cigar — Abstract Print
By Michael John Valentine
In the world of cigars, few names carry the mystique and reverence of a Behike Cohiba. The cigar itself is not merely an object of tobacco and craftsmanship — it is ritual, history, and atmosphere distilled into form. In this abstract interpretation, Michael John Valentine captures something even more elusive: the experience of the cigar rather than the cigar alone. The print becomes a visual meditation on smoke, time, luxury, and sensory memory.
The first impression is color — bold yet controlled, expressive yet refined. Deep espresso browns anchor the composition, echoing the aged tobacco leaf and the polished wood of a humidor opened slowly in a quiet room. These darker tones feel grounded and intentional, giving the piece a sense of permanence and weight. They act as a visual foundation upon which lighter and more energetic colors can move freely.
Gold tones shimmer across the composition, referencing both the iconic Cohiba band and the cultural symbolism of cigars as objects of celebration and achievement. The gold is not flat or decorative; instead, it appears layered and alive, as though illuminated by candlelight or the amber glow of aged bourbon in a crystal glass. This warmth introduces a feeling of luxury without excess — confidence without spectacle.
Threaded through the darker palette are movements of cream, ash gray, and smoky white. These colors drift through the painting like rising smoke, softening the structure of the composition and introducing motion. They create a visual rhythm that feels unhurried, contemplative, and almost musical. Smoke is transient by nature, and Valentine’s use of these tones captures that fleeting quality — the moment between lighting a cigar and the first slow exhale.
Texture is where the artwork becomes truly immersive. Thick, confident brushwork gives the surface a tactile presence that mirrors the physicality of cigar culture itself. One can almost feel the ridges of layered paint as if they were the veins of a tobacco leaf or the grain of a cedar-lined humidor. This dimensionality invites the viewer closer, encouraging exploration not only with the eyes but with the imagination.
Certain areas of the print appear intentionally smooth and glossy, creating contrast against heavier passages of paint. This interplay between polished and rugged surfaces mirrors the duality of cigars themselves — refined yet elemental, luxurious yet rooted in soil and labor. The viewer senses both craftsmanship and raw material coexisting within the same visual space.
Movement across the composition feels organic and atmospheric. Rather than presenting a literal still-life rendering, the artwork dissolves edges and forms into abstraction. The cigar becomes suggestion rather than object. Smoke becomes gesture rather than depiction. This approach allows the viewer to project personal memories onto the piece — a late evening conversation, a celebratory moment, or the quiet solitude of reflection.
There is also a subtle architectural structure beneath the abstraction. Lines and tonal blocks guide the eye horizontally, evoking the long cylindrical form of a cigar resting between fingers. This compositional stability keeps the expressive color and texture from drifting too far into chaos. The balance between control and spontaneity is one of the defining strengths of the work.
Emotionally, the piece communicates calm confidence. Nothing in the composition feels rushed or accidental. Even the most energetic strokes seem to belong exactly where they are, echoing the deliberate pace of cigar smoking itself. The artwork encourages slowing down — visually and mentally — much like the ritual it celebrates.
The glossy print surface enhances the experience further by amplifying depth and luminosity. Light reflects subtly across raised textures and layered pigments, changing slightly as the viewer moves. This shifting reflection echoes the living quality of smoke, reinforcing the painting’s connection to atmosphere and sensation.
As part of Valentine’s broader exploration of cigar culture through art, this piece stands out for its emphasis on mood over representation. It does not attempt to illustrate a product; it interprets a tradition. The Behike becomes symbolic — representing craftsmanship, patience, and the reward of time invested wisely.
Collectors will notice how the composition holds visual power both from a distance and up close. From across a room, the painting reads as bold and confident. At intimate viewing distance, its textures, tonal transitions, and layered color relationships reveal themselves slowly. This dual viewing experience mirrors the layered complexity of a fine Cuban cigar — first aroma, then flavor, then lingering finish.
There is also an unmistakable sense of studio authenticity present in the print. The energy of the original brushwork remains visible and unfiltered, preserving the artist’s physical interaction with the canvas. This authenticity gives the piece a pulse — a reminder that it was created through motion, intuition, and material engagement.
Ultimately, Behike Cohiba Cuban Cigar — Abstract is about more than cigars. It is about ritual, atmosphere, and the poetry of slowing down in a fast world. Through color, texture, and movement, Valentine transforms a cultural symbol into an emotional landscape — one that invites reflection as much as admiration.
Like a great cigar, the artwork does not demand attention. It rewards it.
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