Paintings Around the World

Nighthawks painted in 1942 by Edward Hopper

Nighthawks painted in 1942 by Edward Hopper

Nighthawks painted in 1942 by Edward Hopper

The painting Nighthawks by Edward Hopper was painted in 1942. The painting depicts a quiet city during the night time and a 24-hour diner with 3 patrons and 1 worker. Everyone depicted in the painting seems to be staring off into space lost in their own thoughts. The original name Hopper intended for the painting was “Night Hawks”. The painting now resided in the Art Institute of Chicago, it was bought for 3,000$ within months of the paintings completion.

Hopper, shortly after his marriage to his wife, Josephine (Jo), would keep a journal that contained sketches of his paintings and a detailed description of it. His wife would later add more information, in which the themes of the paintings were some what illuminated.

Night Hawks Sketch made by Edward Hopper

Hopper’s biographer, Gail Levin, had speculated that Hopper had some inspiration from Vincent Van Gough’s “Café Terrace at Night”. Levin also suggested that it could be inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s 1927 short story, “The Killers”. Beyond Levin’s speculation there is no actual evidence that Hopper had received inspiration from Van Gough’s work.

Café Terrace at Night painted in 1888 by Vincent Van Gogh