Edward Hopper is without a doubt one of the most significant American artists of the 20th century. Hopper's works are best known for their apparent silence and simplification, but Hopper used these tools to enhance the symbolic meanings in his paintings. NightHawks is one of Hopper's iconic works. The cafe in Nighthawks is a refuge for the people within, against the all-consuming darkness of the night. The night was for a Hopper, a prelude to death. The night would inexorable swallow the patrons of the cafe, were it not for the light they find safety in. The three customers are backed by the black facade of buildings across the street, further emphasizing their lighted reprieve from the night, and unconsciously, death. NightHawks speaks to the need in all of us for a well-lighted, clean refuge from the fears and uncertainties of the night.
Friday, March 6, 2009
NightHawks, Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper is without a doubt one of the most significant American artists of the 20th century. Hopper's works are best known for their apparent silence and simplification, but Hopper used these tools to enhance the symbolic meanings in his paintings. NightHawks is one of Hopper's iconic works. The cafe in Nighthawks is a refuge for the people within, against the all-consuming darkness of the night. The night was for a Hopper, a prelude to death. The night would inexorable swallow the patrons of the cafe, were it not for the light they find safety in. The three customers are backed by the black facade of buildings across the street, further emphasizing their lighted reprieve from the night, and unconsciously, death. NightHawks speaks to the need in all of us for a well-lighted, clean refuge from the fears and uncertainties of the night.
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