This painting among the earlier by the artist after establishing his schtick.  Palm Beach Galleries paper label on the reverse titles the work “River Fishing # 9” with a price of 275-.  Cahoon initially was prompted to frame his works by Joan Whitney Payson who in 1953  represented the artist at her Country Art Gallery on Long Island.  Beginning in 1960  Palm Beach Gallery on Worth Ave. along with Lobster Pot Gallery at Nantucket and Boston’s Vose Gallery became the other major venues.  In 1970  he cut all gallery ties selling exclusively from his home studio at Cotuit on Cape Cod.  The house now is operated as a museum displaying his accomplished wife’s paintings along aside his own.      

 

A fresh water mermaid is seldom seen among Cahoon’s extensive oeuvre though the salt water species is a frequent subject to most within this period.  He seldom pictured mermaids as catch though occasionally geared them up as anglers.   Hooks are never depicted with entanglement of the lines Cahoon’s preferred method of capture.  Most often they are seen frolicking with sailors or enjoying varied human pursuits. 

 

The painting descended through the Alex Campbell estate in Lexington, Ky.   Likely purchased by Mr. Campbell from Palm Beach Galleries as the 60’s & 70’s were a  period when he actively collected.  The painting survives in excellent as painted condition.