Edward Hopper (painter)

   Edward Hopper (1882-1967), was an American painter whose pictures of New York City scenes and life in small New England towns rank among the finest realistic works of his time. Hopper painted in both oil and water color, and preferred such subjects as street scenes, highways, gas stations, bridges, theaters, rail-roads, lunch stands, and lighthouses. Most of his works are strangely empty of people, but are still full of emotion. Many express a sense of loneliness and finality and convey a feeling of great space and warm sunlight. The omission of distracting detail and the geometric arrangement of his compositions give his paintings an abstract power. A good example is Nighthawks (image below).
   Hopper was born in Nyack, N.Y., and lived in New York City. He worked as a commercial artist and illustrator for many years. He was not able to concentrate fully on painting until he was past 40.

Edward Hopper (Nighthawks)