Slightly Inhuman: Edward Hopper

In honor of his 126th birthday, and at the request of reader Corrine, today’s “Feel Art Again” post features Edward Hopper and his 1929 painting “Chop Suey,” one of his many scenes of city life. 1. Though he’s known for city scenes like “Chop Suey” and the famous “Nighthawks,” Edward Hopper’s first big break was with a watercolor of a seaside home. “The Mansard Roof” was painted in 1923, during his first summer in Gloucester, MA, and was bought for the Brooklyn Museum’s permanent collection for $100—a decent amount at the time. Although he continued to vacation by the sea, Hopper’s watercolor production had slowed by 1946; he explained his lack of watercolor production by saying, “I think it’s because the watercolors are done from nature and I don’t work from nature anymore.” 2. Thanks to commercial artwork—which he... [read full story]