Book Description
One of the most enduringly popular painters of the twentieth century, Edward Hopper produced many works now considered icons of Modern art. Canvases such as Drugstore, New York Movie, and the universally recognized (and often parodied) Nighthawks not only reshaped what painting looked like in America, but created a visual language for middle-class life and its discontents. This extensive new assessment of Hopper, which accompanies a major traveling exhibition, examines the dynamics of the artist's creative process and discusses his work within the cultural currents of his day--examining the influence not only of other painters, but also of such media as literature and film. And while most studies have tended to see Hopper as the great painter of alienation, this one takes a much broader, more nuanced, and ultimately more representative view.Spanning the entirety of Hopper's career, but with particular emphasis on his heyday in the 30s and 40s, Edward Hopper highlights the artist's greatest achievements while discussing such topics as his absorption of European influences, critical reactions to his work, the relation of Realism to Modernism, the artist's fascination with architecture, his depiction of women, and the struggle in his last years to produce original works. Illustrated with over 150 oils, watercolors and prints, and including essays by several noted scholars in the field and an extensive chronology and bibliography, this is the most comprehensive volume on Hopper produced in the last decade. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A desirable publication
The book was published on the occasion of the exhibition: "Edward Hopper", organised by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; and the Art Institute of Chicago, 2007-2008. It comprises a series of nine essays by different writers, and concludes with Notes, a Chronology, a Checklist and Figure Illustrations and a Selected Bibliography.

This is a handsome volume large in size and almost square in format, illustrated throughout predominately in colour. The informative essays, each dealing with a specific period or genre, discuss the artist, his work and his methods, are illustrated throughout, with the relevant works appearing on or close to the page on which there are discussed. The illustrations are excellent, virtually full colour throughout, the black and white images being mainly drawings or period photographs. Many of the paintings are reproduced half or full page size, with a few full page bleed images of a detail from selected paintings. The quality of reproduction is excellent, often revealing the brush work and surface texture, and the colour rich and vibrant. In total there are 202 illustrations of which 180 are in full colour, they represent works in oils, watercolours and prints. A very desirable publication.

An Excellent Look at Hopper
One of the highlights of my summer was attending the Hopper exhibition at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, for which this volume (published by the MFA) was the companion text.At 288 pages, mostly filled with suberb reproductions of Hopper's paintings and sketches, this volume is comprehensive enough for even the most devoted Hopper fan.Perhaps only Gail Levin's "Catalogue Raisonne" offers a more comprehensive look at the artist.No matter how many art books you may own, clear a spot on your shelf or coffee table for this one.You will not be disappointed.

Edward Hopper
Edward HopperThis book is a great presentation of the outstanding Hopper exhibit at the MFA/Boston. Well worth seeing.

A focus on European influences
Plenty of catalogs and art histories have featured the works of Edward Hopper, but what makes EDWARD HOPPER different is this emphasis on his strengths from the 1920s-1940s, when he produced many of his greatest works. A focus on European influences, critical reactions to his productions, his themes and choices, and his special challenges makes for detailed insights on the personality and ambitions of Hopper, while full-page color illustrations - some 150 in all - provide visual emphasis. Perfect for art libraries and for public lending collections seeking even one definitive Hopper coverage.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

A good study for watercolor artists.
I found the paintings very helpful for the lessons they give about use of value and composition.Both the watercolor and oil paintings give lessons for watercolor painting.Many beginning and intermediate painters fail to achieve good deep dark values in their work.Painters must add value and color paths to create eye movement paths.
Value change gives separation(Depth),colors make it pretty.
Harold D. Smith ... Read more

Book Description
Silent Theater: The Art of Edward Hopper illuminatesthe life and work of one of America's most celebrated yet enigmaticartists.Through a close study of the themes, emotions, and imagery thatpreoccupied Hopper (1882-1967) throughout his life, Walter Wells presentsmany new insights, especially into the haunting silence and loneliness atthe heart of the artist's vision.Hopper's paintings are often described as belonging to a school of Americanrealism, and were in part inspired by the works of European realists suchas Gustave Courbet and Edouard Manet; however, the underlying themes ofloneliness, melancholy, and silence that pervade his works also recall thesurrealist, dreamlike images of Giorgio de Chirico.These elements of thedream world and the subconscious - psychological states that are intrinsicto all people, however little we understand them - may be what makeHopper's work so universally compelling.The paintings embody aparticularly American sensibility; Hopper's evocative depictions of bothurban and rural settings - including theatre interiors, railways,restaurants, gas stations, hotels, street scenes, and coastal landscapes -have become iconic images of early twentieth-century American culture.Walter Wells' informative yet eminently readable monograph explores themany facets of Hopper's art, discussing from various perspectives hisetchings, watercolors, and oil paintings, which represent a wide range ofsubjects.Particular attention is paid to the literary works from whichHopper took inspiration, as well as the ways in which the artist's ownpsychology and emotional states influenced his output. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A new way of seeing Hopper
This book studies the art of Edward Hopper through its various influences: the influence of literature and the influence of the artist's mood and psyche, at the different periods of his life. Beyond the mere statement that his was an art of silence, the author manages to dig deeper and shows us how nothing in Hopper's works, whether paintings or etchings, was left to chance. The many top-quality illustrations add to the overall value of this book which is, in my opinion, one of the best available on the artist (along with the catalogue for the 2007 retrospective which also is a must-have).

Silent Theater: The Art of Edward Hopper
As a long-time admirer of the paintings of Edward Hopper, I was delighted to discover Walter Wells' new book, Silent Theater (Phaedon), a large-format compendium of Hopper's work with a wealth of large color illustrations of the major works and detailed textual commentary that is both scholarly and readable, that is informative, stylistically graceful, and blessedly free both of academic and postmodern jargon. The size of the book places it in what ordinarily goes by the name "coffee table" book, but this is far more than what that rubric, or other such volumes, suggests. Professor Wells' comprehensive and detailed text interprets (often quite originally) and in detail the major works and places the discussion of Hopper's art in the broad contexts of modernism and urban society and culture in the early half of the twentieth century as well as the psychological (e.g., Jung and Freud) and literary forces that influenced Hopper and provided the intellectual and artistic arenas in which he worked. The title suggests both the silence which is so much a part of his work--aloneness, loneliness, and alienation--and the narrative quality of his work which engages the viewer in an active role of reading meaning into the images, whose implications so often go beyond the edge of the canvas. This is a splendid work (at a reasonable price) and a welcome addition to the work that has been done on Hopper, one of America's most original and engaging artists.

Stunning with rich commentary
The author, Walter Wells brings this art and this artist (Edward Hopper) into an almost molecular intimacy.People who like Hopper (usually fiercly) are commonly aware that Hopper was more or less an unfriendly cuss...but his stark, dark, flat,impoverished, humorless, and altogether fascinating works prevail upon us... so we need to know more.Here it is, in (250 plus)very large pages!The most popular of Hopper's paintings have kept many of us more than curious, willing to seek and hang his abundantly available prints, because his subjects and style create mystery, tension, the wonderment of a story...untold. (Hence the title "Silent Theatre") World renown and celebrated works, "Railroad Sunset", "Early Sunday Morning" and "Nighthawks"--or "High Noon". are all inside; discussed, compared, associated and dissected.The book begins with with a charming introduction concerned with Hopper's childhood and youth; his affinity for theatre and literature. From there,the author takes us into a grand array of about 175 paintings, and many etchings, (and relate works by other artists), divided into 15 genres of Hopper's craft and psyche. It is this organization that brings us into what I think is a masterful, beautifully written, account of the Man... his loves, his life, his work -- early, middle and late.How do I say it? --The book "stays after" Hopper, and gets into each painting in granular detail. ( I won't finish it for weeks, or...months.It is vast and thorough...and one can open it anywhere and spend an enjoyable few minutes..or an hour! ... Read more

Book Description
"A definitive biography." Robert Hughes, Time"A nearly flawless account of a remarkable artist . . . a compelling and accessible narrative for anyone even remotely interested in modern American art." Michael Kammen, The New York Times Book Review This acclaimed biography of Edward Hopper is essential reading for anyone interested in the world-famous realist artist. This second, expanded edition doubles the number of illustrations, and includes a new section of paintings in color. A newly added section on Hopper's international influence on culture, especially on contemporary art, poetry, and cinema, makes this edition unique. The original biography (Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography, Knopf, 1995) has long been considered the seminal review of Edward Hopper's life and work. The biography's focus is the laconic, introverted painter's stormy forty-three-year marriage to outspoken and gregarious Josephine ("Jo") Nivison, herself an artist, and draws extensively on Jo Hopper's intimate diaries, which she kept from the early 1930s until shortly before her death in 1968 (just 10 months after her husband died). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The book reads like a Hopper painting
Do not be intimidated by this book's length. I am not an art buff, but have become interested in Hopper and plan to attend the upcoming exhibition of his work at the National Gallery of Art in DC this Fall.
I approached this book with trepidation, but found myself drawn into it. I read it compulsively to the finish. There is tremendous detail presented in a simple austere style. It tries to make Hopper's life speak for itself. Thus, the book is a work of art about it's subject--a Hopper.
My only caveat is that you must also have a separate copy of Hopper's works (or at least many of them) to consult. Surprisingly and I think mistakenly, the book does not include copes of the many of the paintings.However, if you are familiar with his work, this is no impediment.

Great audio book, but be sure to purchase parts one AND two.
When I got this book, I was elated. I'm a huge Hopper fan and also own Gail Levin's Catalog Raisonne of Edward Hopper's work. The book is incredibly insightful into Hopper's personality and goes into detail about his education, life with Jo, and seemingly each painting's creation.

But make certain that when purchasing this book (especially used) that you are getting parts I and II. There are supposed to be a total of 18 cassettes... I unfortunately had to buy parts one (10 cassettes) and two (8 cassettes) seperately at greater expense.

Two Comedians In Love - Edward and Josephine Hopper
Gail Levin's book -Edward Hopper:an Intimate Biography- is about the life of a famous artist, Edward Hopper, as well as that of an obscure artist, Josephine Hopper (the former Josephine Nivison).Mrs. Hopper's detailed diaries, kept up faithfully for decades, are a major source of information for Levin's book. Since this necessarily puts the perspective of the book heavily on Jo's side of the story, no one should consider this one-stop shopping for finding out what made Edward Hopper tick.The Hoppers were a two completely opposite personalities who both complemented and aggravated each other.What I most like about Levin's book is that probably no one else has ever been in Jo Hopper's corner before Levin.Jo usually comes off as the stereotypical shrewish wife who dominated her poor henpecked husband.What a different picture is presented in this book!Instead, their marriage was much more complex, and the love/hate dynamics never seem to have leveled off during the many years they were together.Their story defies my own stereotypcial notion that as people grow old, their emotions level off and they are like two old bookends.Not with these two!I also enjoyed finding out that Edward Hopper was a Bette Davis fan, that he liked Jo to wear her hair down, that Jo's idea of cooking was opening up cans, and that Hopper had to haul buckets of coal up from the basement to feed the coal stove that heated their studio/living quarters.Much of these intimate details are provided courtesy of Jo's diaries, which served as an outlet and a refuge from her stolid husband. Perhaps best of all is the theatricality and eroticism suggested by Jo's descriptions of how they worked together as she posed for many of his paintings.In one of Edward Hopper's last paintings, Two Comedians, he portrays two shy actors taking a little bow:a loving tribute to their long and histrionic collaboration together, in life and in art.

An interesting glimpse into the life of an American artist.
Gail Levin's biography is a thorough review of Edward Hopper's life and work, spanning his early childhood, his struggles as an artist paying the bills by illustrating for magazines, his success, and his consistently remarkable artistic output. The surprise for me came from the revelation that his wife Jo, usually a marginal and minor figure, was a remarkable woman and an artist herself. Although one is tempted to wonder how her career would have gone if she hadn't married Hopper, Levin avoids sensationalistic speculation and, aside from occasional comments, sticks strictly to the facts.

Edward Hopper: An Intimate Biography
While the book was interesting it was also redundant of some of Ms. Levin's other works.Unfortunately, I believe she got at least one fact messed up, which, of course is curious, and, makes one wonder if anyone is doing any editing out there. At 45 bucks a pop, you'd think someone would be doing some fact checking.I believe I'm correct in pointing out that Christian Hopper was Edward Hopper's grandfather, not great-grandfather as she so states. His father was Garrett Henry Hopper. His father was Christian Hopper.Christian Hopper married Charity Blauvelt, and together they had Garrett Henry Hopper, who, together with Elizabeth Smith Hopper, had Edward Hopper. I thought some of the events like Jo's trying to get the car out of the garage were a riot, not to mention hearing about her cat, Arthur.Unfortunately, Arthur disappears about midway. Leaves you wondering if she named him after Chester A. Arthur, Arthur Godfrey, etc.He had an odd sense of humor, but he was Dutch and you know how they are. Not too abnormal, tho. Your typical stingy, grumpy man who hasn't a clue about women. Other than that, it was a good read. ... Read more

Book Description
Edward Hopper resided in the Washington Square area of New York City from 1905 until his death in 1967, pursuing the visual essence of Gotham in various media and taking the measure of ordinary city dwellers. He embraced the architecture of the great city, revealing its solidity and bulk in "convincing three dimensional pictorial space." Today his most evocative canvases resonate with a contemporary power. Whether in oils and watercolors such as Automat, Nighthawks, or New York Pavements or in etchings like The El Station and Night Shadows, Hopper gave us stark yet intimate interpretation of urban existence that are touchstones of American art.

Avis Berman's essay explores how Hopper and his work illuminate each other by analyzing what his New York is--and is not. The artist preferred nondescript vernacular buildings, eschewing the new, the gigantic, the technologically exciting. He truly made emptiness full, silence articulate, plainness mysterious, and tawdriness noble. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A unique tour of the city itself
With an informed and informative text by New York resident, writer and art historian Avis Berman, Edward Hopper's New York showcases more than 50 color and b/w paintings, etchings and drawings focusing exclusively on famed artist's Edward Hopper's New York City inspired artwork. Many of the artworks have a paragraph of commentary exclusive to them, but the overall narrative tour continues from cover to cover. Realistic in its artistic style, with a slightly softer than life texture to the paintings that is just about the only thing that prevents one from mistaking them for photographs, Edward Hopper's New York is a unique tour of the city itself.
... Read more

Book Description
In the acclaimed first edition of Hopper's Places, Gail Levin paired paintings by Edward Hopper with her photographs of the subjects of paintings done in New York and environs, Maine, Gloucester, and Cape Cod to demonstrate how Hopper made art of everyday scenes and how he sometimes made intentional changes from what he observed. For this new edition, Levin has added documentary photographs and Hopper's paintings of sites in Paris, where he painted for several years as a young man, Charleston, Mexico, and the western U.S. to give a broader view of the range of his work and the power with which he transformed his subjects while still remaining faithful to their essential features. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

HOPPER-HOPPING WITH GAIL LEVIN
There's a TWILIGHT ZONE episode titled, 'A KIND OF STOPWATCH' which starred Richard Erdman & was first broadcast in October of 1963.The story is about a man who is able to freeze time by suspending the progress of the second hand on an enchanted stopwatch.He instantaneously stops time in order to rob a bank and accidentally breaks the stopwatch in the process, leaving him stranded alone forever in a timeless, lifeless world.I saw the episode as a child and it immediately captivated me, and something about that imagery has haunted me ever since.EDWARD HOPPER is my favorite artist and there'sa "timeless isolationism" - a Twilight Zoneish quality - to his oeuvre that I really resonate to.(Don't worry!I don't intend to psychoanalyze myself here.Although my parents DID disenroll me from kindergarten when, because of my withdrawn nature, my teacher described me as "antisocial."They employed the obvious solution to that malady, right?)

HOPPER's works convey this intense internal aloneness by merely hinting at details in big spaces, depicting daytime shadows sparsely and yet placing almost everything in a serene (often golden) glow.His pictures rarely illustrate the sharp, mind-numbing dead of Winter or the harsh and draining dog days of Summer.Regardless of the time of year in which he worked, in Hopper's world it is perpetually Autumn.Dreamy.Quiet.Lonely. Sad.But how he captured that mood cannot be fully fathomed through mere observable techniques.It was Mr. Melancholy's inner vision that was his real "style", and this comes across so brilliantly in GAIL LEVIN's wonder-filled book, 'HOPPER'S PLACES.'

Having served as curator of the Hopper Collection at the Whitney Museum, and having written & compiled 'EDWARD HOPPER: AN INTIMATE BIOGRAPHY' and 'A CATALOGUE RAISONNE' (as well as many other Hopper-related titles), Gail Levin is probably the foremost expert on the man and his work, and eminently qualified to be our tour guide as we go Hopper-hopping through 3 countries in search of his subjects.Levin's photographs duplicating the sights & angles that Hopper put on canvas really highlight the unique "eye" for scenes that, via his singular process of artistic alchemy, the painter was able to transform into the HOPPER ZONE.

HOPPER'S PLACES records many of my favorites : EAST WIND OVER WEEHAWKEN (1934); SHAKESPEARE AT DUSK ('35); APPROACHING A CITY ('46); LIGHTHOUSE HILL ('27); ADAM'S HOUSE ('28); and the utterly fascinating, ROOMS FOR TOURISTS ('45).I can see how this bed & breakfast place depicted at night might elicit diametrically different responses from a variety of observers : "I ain't going in there; that's where Norman Bates lives!" or "God dwells there and He invites me to leave the darkness and come into the Light."

Unfortunately, because Levin was unable to provide comparative photos for them, a few really choice Hoppers were excluded from this book.Notably, DRUG STORE (1927); EARLY SUNDAY MORNING ('30); SEVEN A.M. ('48); and Edward Hopper's ubiquitous masterpiece, NIGHTHAWKS (1942).Incidentally, this shopping mall poster gallery & post card favorite was the inspiration for the title of the TOM WAITS "live" studio album, 'NIGHTHAWKS AT THE DINER', which in turn was the inspiration for one of Amazon's best customer reviews - Kippy Lanker's April 6, 2002 review called, 'IN THE OLDEST BAR IN NEVADA...'

Once upon a time, I had entertained the idea of a career in art (another fatality on my Boulevard Of Broken Dreams), but in discovering the work of Edward Hopper, I realized that my pictures had already been put on canvas, and better than I could have hoped to paint them.HOPPER'S PLACES is a "must own" book for any fan of the man's work, or for anyone who simply wants to SEE the definition of "art."

"MAMAS DON'T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS,"Waylon & Willie sang in 1978, "BECAUSE THEY'LL NEVER STAY HOME AND THEY'RE ALWAYS ALONE, EVEN WITH SOMEONE THEY LOVE."But then of course, if your babies should happen to display an aptitude with pen & brush, you just might want to ship 'em off to art school.

Wonderful achievement, valuable tool for painters!
I loved this book! If the most important trait to have as an artist is to "see" like an artist, then this gives you insight into what one of America's greatest saw.

Anybody who has picked up my copy of the book has been fascinated, even if they aren't painters themselves. The only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5, was the analysis of some of Hopper's subjects. It seemed, after reading what the author wrote about the paintings, that she spent too much time in academia and not enough time painting. She attributes more complex motives to some of Hopper's compositions than he intended, I think. For instance, I suspect that the only reason he painted the dead tree in front of Libby House was that he found it artistically interesting. I don't think he was trying to show "past decay" against the present, but who knows?

In the end, I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves Hopper or the realist style.

Wonderful
If you are a fan of Hopper's art, and/or if you like to paint yourself, you will love this book.Hopper's ability to take the ordinary and turn it into an exceptional painting is amazing, and this book shows you exactly (well, almost) what he saw when he painted his scenes.Gail Levin went through a lot of hard work to track down these places, and seeing them side by side with Hopper's paintings makes it well worth her effort. It's my favorite art book, turned to time and time again. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

What an experience
Edward Hopper is best known for his urban, moody paintings. He painted traditional rural landscapes, and seaside scenes along the New Englad coast, too. What he captured best, though, was urban life in the 1940s.

He seems to have caught it all, the bridges, trains, opera, and tenements, at every hour of day and night. And very often he captured someone, often a woman, in a moment of solitude. These scenes border on voyeurism, the unguarded moments when his subjects might be dressed, or partly, or not - with no one to dress for, it hardly matters. There is nothing erotic in these nudes and semi-nudes. In fact, I quite like the unposed, unpoised relaxation of the moment. Hopper is quite capable of showing a female figure as strong and desirable, as in "Office at Night" or "Summer Evening" I sympathize more with the figures who have no one to pose for; they seem more honest somehow.

People say that many of his paintings are about loneliness, and that may be true. I think more of them are about solitude, or separation, or the invisible walls that people erect to keep themselves sane in the urban crush. In "Two on the Aisle," as in so many paintings of two or more people, the two parties seem barely aware of each other. Even within the couple, they scarcely look at each other, as if long familiarity means there's nothing new to see.

Of 246 paintings reproduced here, only 88 are in color. They are well printed, and capture Hopper's generally subdued palette. They are just enough to make me greedy, though, and to wish I could see more in the colors that Hopper gave them. There's a lot of work here, including a number of etchings, from Hopper's earlier ouvre as well. I don't mean to neglect those works, but his 40s and 50s pieces have an incredible power over me.

The commentary occupies about half the book, and gives real insight into Hopper's life. I have to admit, I skimmed the words, only dipping into them occasionally. That just gives me more reason (as if I needed reason) to come back again. And again and again.

This book really is beautiful. If more of it were in color, it would have the highest praise I know how to give.

//wiredweird.

Appealing format, great plates
The long format of this book allows for good reproduction of many of Hopper's landscapes. I have several Hopper books, but this one is by far the most comprehensive and most beautifully printed. This is a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Hopper's work, or for your own art library.

Expression of American Monotonous Suburban Life
I came across Hopper's paintings, when I was doing reproductions of famous artists as my partial work in high school. They immediately caught my attention and excitement, as they had an odd quality, which no other painters had in their work. Vast spaces, empty streets, newly-woke-up ladies in old-fashion motel rooms, extreme light conditions that contradicted the monotonousness in some way... These are some of the major images one is apt to see in Hopper's works.

Hopper's paintings seem to depict the 20s-40s of America, in the context of local towns, cafes, old rooms, within the frame of realism. He's usually painted his figures in an alignment, that does not let us see their faces nor fronts. Instead, the sun has the right to see them, which casts bright light rays into dark rooms.

I think that Hopper seems to be content with the way of living in America, and how people of it carry on their lives. The paintings may indicate some not-so-happy situations, but they do not depict depression. Therefore, I think that Hopper is the best representative of American culture in the early twentieth century in that sense.

I haven't purchased the book yet; but had a chance to look at it in the school's library. The book contains many of his paintings, and Goodrich's comments show some level of apprehension and knowledge of Hopper's work. It is concise and comprehensive, and I recommend it to everybody. Hopper is certainly one of the most affective artists of the twentieth century and all times.

Comprehensive in scope, accurate in plates.
Most comprehensive single volume regarding Hopper and his work, that I amaware of, and the reprints of the work are accurate and true to theoriginals.A significant book about a significant painter. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Solid
I am neither a poet, nor a visual artist, so I will provide for you the layman's review:I find this book to be a charming text, based on a very good idea (ask writers to create poetry inspired by the Hopper paintings reproduced herein).Like all books of poetry, I'm quite sure that - like me - you will find that some of the poetry speaks to you, and some of it does not, but you will find all of it to be of a very high quality.Likewise, one of the aspects I enjoy most about this book is the quality of the reproductions, which, perhaps because of the book's rather small physical size, shows off the richness and clarity of Hopper's work better than most other books that present his oils.I have given this book as a gift twice now, and the recipients have been very impressed... ... Read more

Book Description
"Edward Hopper: Summer at the Seashore" takes readers on a fascinating trip to the New England coast. Children and adults alike will enjoy Hopper's masterful paintings of sailboats, lighthouses, seascapes and white clapboard houses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If it's all you can find
This work is of medium value.The collection of reproductions is good, both in terms of the amount of them, as well as their quality.Certainly it's nothing overly-impressive, but it is a fine collection.

The problem lies more in the commentary.Renner spends a great deal of time on "re-codings" in Hooper's work, leading to many...interesting conclusions.As one reads along, one gets the impression that Hooper himself didn't have a great deal to say (espeically compared to artists, like Dali, who can't shut up), so Renner instead fills the space with what lamentably passes for art criticism these days (mostly of the postmodern and psychologizing variety).I wasn't terribly impressed.

Everything considered, you would be better served by another Hooper book from Taschen, this one written by Ivo Kranzfelder.Kranzfelder takes much greater care to deal with the little amount Hopper said, and (while the current style does occur to an extent) the commentary tends to be much more lucid as regards Hopper's works.Additionally, that volume has a much larger and better variety of Hopper's works than Renner's.

That being said, if one cannot get a hold on Kranzfelder's book, or does not want to spend the extra money for it, Renner's work is acceptable.The commentary isn't swell, but it is still passable. ... Read more

Book Description
The first significant American painter in 20th century art...

Edward Hopper (1882-1967) is considered the first significant American painter in 20th-century art. Living in a secluded country house with his wife, Josephine, he depicted the loneliness of big-city people in canvas after canvas. Probably the most famous of them, Nighthawks, done in1942, shows a couple seated quietly, as if turned inwards upon themselves, in the harsh artificial light of an all-night restaurant. Many of Hopper's pictures represent views of streets and roads, rooftops, abandoned houses, depicted inbrilliant light that strangely belies the melancholy mood of the scenes. Hopper's paintings are marked by striking juxta-positions of color, and by the clear contours with which the figures are demarcated from their surroundings. His extremely precise focus on the theme of modern men and women in the natural and man-made environment some-times lends his pictures a mood of eerie disquiet. In House by the Railroad, a harsh interplay of light and shadow makes the abandoned building seem veritably threatening. On the other hand, Hopper's renderings of rocky landscapes in warm brown hues, or his depictions of the seacoast, exude an unusual tranquillity that reveals another, more optimisticside of his character. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good introduction to Hopper's life and work
Hopper made my favorite painting, "Nighthawks", arguably the most imitated and parodied painting of the past 50 years. Kranzfelder's biography is fairly superficial, concentrating on dates and major events in Hopper's life, rarely attempting to dig deeper into the subject. But that's OK; I wasn't looking for a full-scale appraisal. The reproductions are excellent and in general this is a good introduction to Hopper's life and work.

Must Read Introduction to Edward Hopper!
While I was superficially attracted to this book because of its stunning reproductions and affordable price, Kranzfelder deserves much more credit.This book is wonderful for amateur Hopper enthusiasts and presents in-depth analysis balanced with connections to contemporary painters and changes in society.Mostly chronological, this book is divided into the various themes such as voyeurism, windows, sexuality, and urban isolation.Another excellent addition to any personal library from Taschen, the best art resource publisher.

IT'S A HOPPER!
I have read the FRENCH translation of this book,and i enjoyed it,even if the approach often is on the intellectual side.No AMERICAN art in the first half of the previous century gets near that man, who visualized his country with a personnal perception.The paintings of HOPPER often gets to you in their quest of lonelyness.PEOPLE IN THE SUN for instance is fascinating.The most interesting aspectabout HOPPER,is that his paintings are about the persistance of vision;the way one can try to read his mind.

If you are interested in Hopper, DO NOT miss this book!
This is one of the most intelligent and interesting books on Hopper I've read. And I have a good-sized collection of books on this American artist because he's my favorite.

Not only are there rarer paintings and etchings in here not often included in coffee table books on Hopper, but author Kranzfelder shows his influence on photography, and shows the influence of other artists (notably Degas) on Hopper. Kranzfelder puts paintings and photos on one page, and the particular example of Hopper's work on the other so you can see the comparison side by side.

The text is also interesting and full of rare facts and a good analysis as well. If you want a great book about Hopper's work, this is one of the best I have seen. HIGHLY recommended.

Excellent summary of Edward Hopper's life and art
Affordably priced and well written.

Must read for any admirer of Edward Hopper's work. ... Read more

Book Description
A penetrating exploration of the American realist painter, who was able to capture the many moods of the nation he called home.

Edward Hopper's talent for depicting multiple aspects of the post-war experience is the focus of this flexi-cover edition of Edward Hopper: Portraits of America. From his images of deserted small towns and solitary figures in empty offices to his cheerfully tranquil New England landscapes, Hopper's most famous compositions are presented as products of a life spent observing human nature. Hopper's images evoke an enigmatic uncertainty, which speaks to the heart of the American experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An easy start to appreciate Hopper's work.
This book is quite easy to read while sometimes it's not easy to enjoy the pleasure of an art work. Edward Hopper, an icon of the realistic painter of the U.S.. Solitude, isolation and alienation are common emergence in manyHopper's work. It's like reading a novel of metaphor leaving"readers" a huge space to imagine the context of the painting.The book provides a lot of clues for us to step into the "Literaturalworld" of Hopper. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Nice display!
This book give just enough images, just enough text -- perfect! It's beautiful and nicely done.

From the Publisher
"Edward Hopper (1882-1967), one of the most important American painters of the twentieth century, spent nearly every summer of his long artistic career in New England. This book presents many of Hopper's finest paintings of the region and examines the crucial role New England played in Hopper's development as an artist. Carl Little is author of Paintings of Maine and is a regular contributor to Art New England and Art in America.

"88 pages, 35 full-color reproductions, 21 black-and-white illustrations, size: 10 x 10 3/4". Casebound book, with dust jacket. ISBN: 1-56640-315-4."--© Pomegranate

A Wonderful Collection of Edward Hopper Paintings
EDWARD HOPPER'S NEW ENGLAND is a collection of some of Hopper's works of art inspired during his travels in New England. Though Hopper was primarily a New York artist, he spent many summers in New England and produced many of his most memorable paintings during his visits. Some of his visits were to New England's best known artist colonies such as Gloucester, Monhegan Island in Maine, and Provincetown. People familiar with current Cape Cod artists will see the way in which Hopper inspired a good number of them when they see his paintings of Truro and Provincetown, two of Hopper's favorite locales. Many of the locations can still be found today, though they have changed over the years. The paintings of Gloucester bring the simplicity of this old fishing community alive. The pictures from Maine are some of Hopper's famous depictions of lighthouses and sailing vessels. Some nature scenics are also included in this volume. The landscapes, architecture, boats, and people depicted in Hopper's work show his range as an artist.

People who love Hopper's work will appreciate this book because it contains not only some of Hopper's better known works from various museums but also works in private collections.

Hopper's subjects are not complex, nor are they glamorous in and of themselves, but with an artist such as Hopper, we are able top see beauty in places we might otherwise miss. This book is a must for people who love and appreciate artists' renditions of New England. It is also a perfect gift for people who love New England. ... Read more

Book Description
The definitive, complete catalogue of Edward Hopper's oils, watercolors, and illustrations published in a magnificent three-volume boxed set.

First published in 1995 at $750 and now available at one-third that price, this extraordinary collection includes essays on Hopper's place in American art, all his illustration work, 350 watercolors, 360 oils, related texts, and an easy-to-reference Windows CD with provenance, bibliographies, exhibition histories, and excerpts from the artist's own sketchbooks. 3 volumes boxed with Windows CD. 1,500 illustrations, 600 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Better Values Elsewhere
If you love Edward Hopper and must have the complete works, you'll buy this regardless of what I say. But if you are just a fan and want to see a bio and highlights there are better compendiums out there. While these books are bound well, the paper could be better quality as could the color reproduction. The biggest drawback is that the books don't lie flat for better viewing.

Again, if you want the complete, historical Edward Hopper - I'd consider this. But for the money and for someone who just admires his more popular works, there are better, and less expensive choices. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Ambiguity
Edward Hopper was called a bad painter by noted critic Clement Greenberg.Europeans see Hopper as American due to his subject matter.Hopper reveals the fractures beneath the scenes.The ambiguous quality has a dimension of aesthetic openness.

Hopper's nearly over-determined realism shades into fantasy.The author speaks of the conflict in many of the paintings of energy and inertia.Hopper's life was quiet and orderly.He was nurtured by the European tradition.He later perfected a technique of contrast contouring.

Hopper wrote admiringly of the Ohio artist Charles Burchfield.Hopper showed a meticulous use of detail in his paintings.The book contains much intelligent discussion of the artist, beautiful illustrations, and a detailed chronology.

A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTIST
EDWARD HOPPER'S world of lonelyless is like a mirror of AMERICA 's rural world and also an alienation of city life.There is a real unity in the artist's vision and the way he has chosen to celebrate the people he loved is both moving and haunting.Who can forget those visions of a secretary sitting on the desk and waiting for the boss, and those people in the sun just lying there ,and finally those two women in the restaurant?HOPPER is an artist that really gets to you in a most depressing way.As an introduction to his work, this book is interesting ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

No thousand words here - just pictures.
This budget priced book contains many lovely and enlightening examples of Hopper's drawings including some studies for some of his well known paintings. This slim volume contains no text at all, not even an introduction, with the single exception of a short blurb on theback cover. The quality of the paper reflects the price of the book but Hopper fans may still find this a valuable addition to their art library.

Very excellent work
I own a lot of Dover art series books. They are excellent books for beginning artists in that they show how the old masters did their early works using different media. Much can be learned from the Dover art books in the use of subject, form, and shading. The Hopper Drawings is one of my favorite Dover art books. Most of the drawings in this book have been made using the Conte crayon. I prefer the Conte crayon over charcoal. It is very sleek, clean, and smooth. The drawings show how masterful Hopper is with the Conte crayon and much can learned by studying his drawings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Collection of the Best Edward Hopper Paintings
Note: There are a couple Mormons who are angry over my negative reviews of books written in defense of the Book of Mormon, and they have been slamming my reviews.

Your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks. PS: I'm not an art critic, but I know what I like. I think you'll enjoy the painting listed below.

I've looked through this book a hundred times (literally), and each time I find details in Hopper's paintings that add to my enjoyment. Some paintings that I love are the "Stairway" (mysterious), the "Two Puritans" (houses), "Gas" (very haunting), and "Solitude" (a lone house along a road).

Oh, and "Cape Cod Evening" (two people by the front door of a house while a collie looks at something). Very mysterious.

Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description
This sumptuous book presents the full range of Edward Hopper's work and offers greater access to Hopper, the man, than any other single volume. This book goes beyond the standard evaluations of the man and his work to reveal a complex man, introspective and intellectual yet romantic, and to illuminate the many levels of meaning in the paintings of his maturity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful,
Wonderful book, very well written, the plates are gorgeous, the organization isperfect.I feel lucky to have this book.
Highly recommend.

Realy good photos of E.H. work
I found this book to be useful as a art student ... Read more