Hopper, Edward

American Painter Edward Hopper (1882 - 1967)

Eward Hopper was a prominent American realist painter and printmaker, famous for capturing the mood and feel of the American experience. While most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in etching. In both his urban and rural scenes, his spare and finely calculated renderings reflected his personal vision of modern American life.

After years as a struggling artist, Hopper had his real breakthrough in 1923 with the showing of six of his water color paintings at an exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. One of these water colors, Mansard Roof, was bought by the museum following the exhibit. Hopper continued to generate interest following this breakthrough, as he also continued his depiction of the American experience, and of the subtle interaction between human beings and their environments.

Hopper’s influence on the world of art and on pop culture cannot be denied. His compocitions also carried a cinematic touch which made him an inspiration for film makers, from Alfred Hitchcock to Ridley Scott to Sam Mendes. Similarly, musicians from Tom Waits to Madonna has felt inspired by his works.

Among his most famous works are “Nighthawks”, “The Mansard Roof” and “A Woman in the Sun”. “Chair Car” was sold on auction by Christies in 2005 for USD 14 million, a record for a work by Hopper.