RALPH CAHOON (1910-1982)
RALPH CAHOON (1910-1982)
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RALPH CAHOON (1910-1982)

UNTITLED (THE ARTIST AND THE MERMAID)

Details
RALPH CAHOON (1910-1982)
UNTITLED (THE ARTIST AND THE MERMAID)
signed R. CAHOON (lower right), signed again and dated R / CAHOON / P[I]NKT / 1972 (center left)
oil on board
9 7⁄8 x 14 ¾ in.
Painted in 1972.
Provenance
Stephen Langley, Brooklyn, New York
Gifted from the above the current owner

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Julia Jones
Julia Jones Associate Specialist

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Lot Essay

This whimsical painting is a wonderful example of Ralph Cahoon’s and showcases his ability to create fantastical and humorous works. Cahoon (1910-1982) was the son of Scottish immigrants who settled in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He was the descendant of fishermen and whalers which heavily influenced the artist as reflected in the present work. In 1932, he married Martha Farham (1905-1999), the daughter of a talented furniture decorator. In their courtship, Martha taught Ralph the art of furniture decorating and in time, they both began painting folk scenes. Here, Cahoon paints one of his trademark mermaids admiring the work of the depicted artist. Below them in the foreground and spread across the beach are discarded sketches of the mermaid. Behind them, the seascape is anchored with a lighthouse and schooner on the horizon, recalling Cahoon’s Cape Cod surroundings.

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