Lot 926: John Cook New England Watercolor Harbor Scene & Carl Von Hanno O/B, Harbor Scene

1st item: John Alfred Cook (American/Massachusetts, 1870 – 1936) watercolor painting depicting a New England harbor scene including a sailboat moored at a dock foreground and sailboats moored by a coastline with a city skyline visible in the background. Signed lower left “J. A. Cook”. Housed in a dark wood frame. Sight: 13 1/4 in. H x 6 1/2 in. W. Framed: 21 3/8 in. H x 14 1/4 in. W. 2nd item: Carl Von Hanno (Norway/France, 1901-1953) oil on board painting depicting sailboats in a harbor, and two sailors on board separate boats, one pulling a net, the other relieving himself off the starboard side. Signed and dated lower right. Housed in a partially ebonized wood frame. Typed Alf Bjerckes label and written label, en verso. Sight: 14 5/8 in. H x 17 3/4 in. W. Frame: 18 3/8 in. H x 21 1/2 in. W. Circa 1948. Biography: Carl Von Hanno graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts under Christian Krohg and Halfdan Strom 1920-22. He lived in Paris in the fall of 1925 and became a student of Andre Lhote. In the second half of the 1920s, von Hanno worked in Western Norway, in Italy, and in North Africa. During this time, a painting of his was purchased by Queen Maud at an exhibition in the Artists’ Association. After returning home, he participated in the competition for the decoration of Folkets Hus’ party hall in Oslo and was awarded the 2nd prize for his draft Kranselaget. He continued to be influenced by French modernism and developed a characteristic form of cubism. In the fall of 1932, he was awarded the Draner Association’s scholarship and stayed in Paris until the spring of 1933. Here he received a proof of Marcel Gromaire at Academie Scandinave. He attended exhibitions in renowned galleries and his work was purchased for the Musee de Jeu de Paume. Descriptions of workers and craftsmen became a main theme. Eventually, the content of his paintings became more politically motivated, and in 1933-34, von Hanno appeared as a social trendist in a moderate Cubist language. In 1935-37 he was an active member of the Socialist Cultural Front, a free-standing political association consisting of intellectuals and artists with a strong attachment to the labor movement. (source: Translated from the Norsk Biografisk Leksikon, the largest Norwegian biographical encyclopedia, originally published by Aschehoug, Oslo, between 1921-1983, 1999-2005).

CONDITION: 1st item: Painting overall very good condition. Frame with scattered minor abrasions. 2nd item: Painting in overall good condition with minor grime. Frame with scattered abrasions.