Midwest Book Review
Edward Hopper created some of the most popular icons of twentieth-century American art. Tinged with a dim opaque light, his realistic style depicts empty spaces, irritating landscapes, and situations in the modern metropolis, where man is encircled by elements that seem about to overpower him. His work was essentially a critique of modern life and made Hopper one of the most respected figures in modern art. Edward Hopper: Pictures In America features 60 full-color and 20 b/w illustrations of Hopper's best work.


Book Description
A penetrating exploration of the American realist painter, who was able to capture the many moods of the nation he called home. Edward Hopper’s talent for depicting multiple aspects of the post-war experience is the focus of this flexi-cover edition of Edward Hopper: Portraits of America. From his images of deserted small towns and solitary figures in empty offices to his cheerfully tranquil New England landscapes, Hopper’s most famous compositions are presented as products of a life spent observing human nature. Hopper’s images evoke an enigmatic uncertainty, which speaks to the heart of the American experience.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Edward Hopper was one of the finest American Scene painters in the Realist tradition. His passion was to portray "typical America"; his city- and landscapes are vivid reflections of the then contemporary American life. Several of his paintings, such as House by the Railroad (1925), Early Sunday Morning (1930), and Nighthawks (1942), have become icons of modern American art. They depict the loneliness, anonymity, and lack of variety in the daily life of ordinary people. Edward Hopper: Portraits of America examines the apparent dichotomy within Hopper's oeuvre. On the one hand, his compositions depict deserted small towns or solitary figures in empty offices, desolate houses, or hotel rooms. On the other hand, Hopper painted the landscape of New England, where he spent almost every summer with his wife Jo, as bright and tranquil. He seemed to analyze the psychological restrictions and isolation of everyday life as well as the joy and freedom of vacation. This volume superbly illustrates this dichotomy with full-color reproductions of many of Hopper's most famous compositions. It shows how, by linking fiction and reality, concealment and revelation, Hopper's images evoke an enigmatic uncertainty, which is both mystifying and fascinating.

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