Edward Hopper (1882-1967)
is something of an American success story, if only his success had come swifter. At the age of 40, he was a failing artist who struggled to sell a single painting. As he approached 80,
Time
magazine featured him on its cover. Today, Hopper is considered a giant of modern expression, with an uncanny, unforgettable, and
utterly distinct sense for mood and place
. Much of Hopper's work excavates
modern city experience
. In canvas after canvas, he depicts diners, cafes, shopfronts, street lights, gas stations, rail stations, and hotel rooms. The scenes are marked by
vivid color juxtapositions
and
stark, theatrical lighting
, as well as by
harshly contoured figures,
who appear at once part of, and alien to, their surroundings. The ambiance throughout his repertoire is of an
eerie disquiet
,
alienation, loneliness and psychological tension
, although his rural or coastal scenes can offer a counterpoint of tranquility or optimism. This book presents major works from Hopper's oeuvre to introduce a key player not only in American art history but also in the American psyche.