Visual Signature: Edward Hopper

American realist painter.
(born in July 22, 1882 in Upper Nyack, New York – died in his studio near Washington Square in New York City on May 15, 1967).
Known for aesthetics of alienation. The sense of isolation.
Was initially trained as a commercial illustrator,
attended New York School of Art (1900 – 1906).
Considered himself an Impressionist,
was fascinated by American vernacular architecture.
Discovered the works of Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Manet, Renoir,
Edgar Degas, Alfred Sisley, Camille Pissarro, Monet, Cezanne
and Van Gogh...
Gained his first financial success from prinmaking by Etching. ^[1]
Was a celebrated poster artist during the First World War.
Had his first one-man show at the age of 37
(January 1920 at the Whitney Studio Club)
In 1930 his painting House by the Railroad was the first work to be acquired for the collections of Museum of Modern Art.

After New York School of Art Hopper stayed in Paris (1906 – 1907).
Then he undertook trips to Amsterdam, London, Brussels, Berlin, Madrid, and Toledo, which helped to shape his visual vocabulary.

Alfred Hitchcock modeled the famous house in Pyscho (1960) off of Hopper’s House by the Railroad.

"I have tried to present my sensations in what is the most congenial and impressive form possible to me.”
– Edward Hopper

“I do not believe there is another city on earth so beautiful as Paris nor another people with such an appreciation of the beautiful as the French.”
– Edward Hopper

"No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.”
– Edward Hopper

“Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in his personal vision of the world. ”
– Edward Hopper

“Sometimes talking to Eddie is just like dropping a stone in a well, except that it doesn’t thump when it hits bottom.”
— Jo Hopper, his wife

P.S. Any contribution helps to keep this content Alive

Donate with PayPal

“When I don’t feel in the mood for painting, I go to the movies for a week or more.”
— Edward Hopper

Edward's wife Josephine Nivison was his favorite model and was largely responsible for his initial success. At her recommendation, the curators at the Brooklyn Museum agreed to show six of Hopper’s watercolors...

Hopper carried a quote from Goethe in his wallet:

“The beginning and end of all literary activity is the reproduction of the world that surrounds me by means of the world that is in me, all things being grasped, related, recreated, molded and reconstructed in a personal form and an original manner.”
– Goethe

Due to realism, contemplation of ordinary subjects and study of the psyche Hopper became a signinficant inspiration for contemporary photographers. We could find clear references to him in photographs of Gregory Crewdson, Robert Adams, Diane Arbus, William Eggleston, Robert Frank, Walker Evans, Stephen Shore, Nan Goldin, and many many others.

Etching – the process of using strong acid to cut into the
unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio
(image is created by cutting, carving or engraving into a flat
surface) in the metal. As an intaglio method of printmaking it is,
along with engraving, the most important technique for old master
prints, and remains widely used today. ↩︎

SeeAlso