ART GALLERY - Edward Hopper

Edward Hopper (American, 1882–1967), the best-known American realist of the inter-war period and one of my favourits. The Long Leg, 1935, Oil on canvas, 40 3/16 x 60 1/8 in.

With its simplified forms modeled by a strong light, his realism was tempered by a modern sensibility. Hopper's compositions often have an air of stillness and a pervading mood of solitude. That is as true for his evocative images of sailing--a recurring theme in his work--as it is with his stark depictions of urban life. Here, the graceful movement of the boat across the water expresses Hopper's attachment to the sea and his love of sailing even as it contributes to the picture's quietude. Like many New York artists of his generation, Hopper sought relief from summer in the city by going to the New England shore. The cool tones and sense of peace in this work offer a respite from the heat and grim of New York. The locale is Stage Harbor on the southeastern coast of Cape Cod, not far from the artist's summer home in South Truro.