This street scene in Gloucester was painted in 1934 by Edward Hopper, in my opinion one of the great painters of the twentieth century. He was a late starter, but developed his very own, instantly recognizable style of painting. Impressionist, yes, but his light is clearer, his shadows darker and his point of view unusual. In 1927, Hopper was already 45, he and his wife Jo bought their first car. They used it extensively to go places where they could paint. See the painting "Jo in Wyoming" below. Some fifty of Hopper’s oil paintings, thirty watercolours and twelve prints are now on exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The exhibition focuses on the period of Hopper’s greatest achievements -from about 1925 to mid-century- during which he produced many works now considered icons of American art. One critical note though: to us old-car lovers surely one of Hopper’s best paintings must be gas (moma.org). It’s a pity this painting is not part of the exhibition.




















Photos courtesy Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

May 20, 2007