Sale 213 Lot 553

GIFFORD ALEXANDER COCHRAN
American, 1906-1978
The Draftsman at Work, 1939
Pencil on paper
This 1939 sketch captures likely a draughtsman or lettering artist at work. Ink signed (the artist's initials) and dated lower right hand corner. Framed. Not examined out of frame.
Sight (as matted): 11.5 x 8.25 inches; frame: 19 x 15.5 inches
$100-150

ARTIST PROFILE: Gifford Alexander Cochran (1906–1978) was an American artist, collector, and translator known for his varied contributions to the arts. Born into a prominent family, he was the son of Gifford Alexander Cochran Sr., a notable Thoroughbred racehorse owner, and Mabel Heyward Taylor. As a painter, Cochran was active in the mid-20th century, specializing in watercolors, oils, and pencil drawings. His body of work primarily consists of landscapes, interiors, still lifes, and figure studies, often capturing scenes from Florida and international locations like Buenos Aires. Beyond his personal art practice, he was a member of the Salmagundi Club and lived at "Dog Hill" in North Salem, New York, where he maintained a significant collection of period furniture. Cochran also ventured into the performing arts, notably co-adapting the English version of The Threepenny Opera for its first American production on Broadway in 1933