Member-only story
Edward Hopper’s view of isolation
Edward Hopper, an American realist painter who is prestige for his “cinematic viewpoint” artwork of an urban settings but yet lonely and isolated. He was born in Nyack, small town in New York City in 1882. Studied in New York School of Art from 1900 –1906 where he would meet one of his teacher Robert Henri who influences Hopper the most.
Between 1906–1910 Hopper would have visited Paris 3 times. He was captivated by the art and culture of Paris. When he arrived there in1906, it was already a centre of modern art. Impressionism had already begun, using light in thematic response and giving it more realistic look. We can see influence of impressionism in Hoppers own painting where he gives such detail to lights and reflections. He was deeply influenced by the work of Moret, Cezanne and Van Gogh.
By 1930 painting “House by the railroad” by Edward Hopper was gathered for the collection in Museum of Modern Art. It expressed Hopper’s idea of agricultural society being left behind in modern era, but then again, one can portray it of one’s own accord. It was also a great example of his technical ability of using lights and reflection. Additionally, The Great Depression had already begun in America followed by WWII.
