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Ralph Cahoon (1910-1982)
Summer Visitors at Hyannis Port (President John F. Kennedy and Family) c. 1962
Oil on masonite
On loan from the collection of Alan Granby and Janice Hyland

Familiar Faces and Places in the Art of Ralph Cahoon

Ralph Cahoon (1910-1982) was famous for his whimsical images of sailors and mermaids cavorting in imaginary nautical scenes, but he also created artworks depicting real people and places around Cape Cod.  This selection of paintings presents lively portraits of his friends, local tradespeople hard at work, an esteemed scientific locale full of animated characters, and a very famous person who once visited his studio — all interpreted in his trademark Cahoon style.  The exhibition includes works from the collection of the Cahoon Museum of American Art as well as rarely seen paintings from private collections.

In the Studio with Ralph and Martha Cahoon

With twinkles in their eyes, witty personalities, and abundant talent, Ralph and Martha Cahoon embraced life together, grounded in community, family, and their love of art.

Ralph, born and raised in Chatham, and Martha, from Harwich, were quintessential Cape Codders. Themes of the seashore, sailing ships, nature, and village life abound in their paintings.

Both sophisticated and down-to-earth, they met at a local dance, married in 1932, and eventually settled into the historic Crocker House (now the Cahoon Museum) in 1945. They lovingly restored it and transformed it into their studio and gallery.  They lived, painted, and sold their art amidst the aromas of home cooking and linseed oil.

Ralph and Martha began their careers as accomplished furniture decorators, but their lives took an unexpected turn in 1953 when a New York gallery owner and patron suggested they apply their talents to easel painting. Their careers took off and their work remains highly collectable today.  For over 85 years, the appeal of the lighthearted exploits of Ralph’s sailors and mermaids and the delicate pastoral scenes painted by Martha has not diminished.  Deeply rooted in American folk art traditions, the Cahoons’ work invokes nostalgia for a life full of lighthearted good humor, simple charm, and popular pastimes.

 If interested in the Cahoon Museum’s Collection, view The Collection page.

Martha Farham Cahoon (1905—1999) grew up determined to become an artist by following in the footsteps of her father, Axel Farham (1876-1946), a fine art painter and a highly accomplished furniture decorator and Swedish folk art revivalist. She became skilled at rosemaling, a free-hand method of decorative painting featuring scrolls and flowers, stenciling, and other decorative techniques.  When she met Ralph Cahoon in 1932, she taught him the trade and they set up a business together decorating and selling furniture and antiques.

In the 1950s when the Cahoons transitioned to easel painting, Martha developed a distinctive style with a palette of tonally soft and muted colors, and her early work includes shell and floral designs she had used on furniture.  Her most enduring themes include nature studies, still lifes, pastoral landscapes, and scenes featuring mythological figures or the Garden of Eden. She often set her scenes in the 19th century where she re-created the look of early American art.

Although Ralph and Martha painted, traveled, and achieved professional success together, her responsibilities as a homemaker and mother precluded her from painting full time for many years.  She created a warm and welcoming home while Ralph was able to pursue his work without the distractions she faced. Nevertheless, she remained a productive and commercially successful artist throughout her life.

Ralph Eugene Cahoon (1910-1982) was born in Chatham and his family roots on Cape Cod dated back to the 1660s. His ancestors were fishermen and whalers, and life by the sea was one of his deepest influences.  Art was a favorite pastime of his, and after high school he attended the School of Practical Art in Boston (now the Art Institute of Boston).  His life took a fortuitous turn when he met Martha Farham in 1932, learned the furniture decorating trade from her, and found an application for his artistic inclinations and training.

During the 1950s when Ralph and Martha transitioned to easel painting, they both sought inspiration from popular culture, art history, and folk art traditions.

In the 1960s, Ralph hit his stride when his hallmark -the mermaid- was firmly established in his work.  He developed a successful formula for his paintings: the setting was typically a seaside New England town, including many Cape Cod scenes, that featured a lighthouse on the horizon, clipper ships on the water, and hot-air balloons in the sky. In this world full of fantasy and fun, his mermaids knit, play cards, cook, fish, hide in trees, pose for photographs, and engage in every conceivable sort of high jinks with their companion sailors. Ralph was prolific, and his paintings, sparkling with intense jewel-like tones, continue to be immensely popular and have attracted the attention of many notable art collectors.