Study for a painting in the manner of Edward Hopper

This doesn’t really look like a painting by Edward Hopper.  For one thing, the light is wrong.

But this morning when I looked at the Saugerties Lighthouse from this angle, my imagination, sparked by my habit of reflexively comparing all lighthouses to paintings of lighthouses by Hopper, “saw” it as a Hopper painting.

Actually, in color and tone and mood, it reminds me a bit more of some of Hopper’s paintings of Gloucester.

The Italian Quarter.

Freight Cars.

Prospect Street.

If you really want to see some Hopper paintings brought to life or life rendered as a Hopper painting, you should read Norman Buckley’s blog post.  Buckley is one of the directors for the TV series Pretty Little Liars and a Hopper fan and when he’s seen the chance, he’s made his love of Hopper’s work clear.

Remind you of anything?

Click on the image to see what Buckley was going for.

And read his whole post, Hopper and Teen Noir.

Also, nice story from NPR on Gloucester as an inspiration to Hopper.

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Comments

[Kevin Wolf]

I can see the leap from your view of the lighthouse to Hopper, regardless of the light. Saw the great Hopper retrospective at the MFA Boston a couple of years ago. In life, the color isn't quite what you might have expected.

Meanwhile, I have no idea what Pretty Little Liars is, even with a look at the link.

[The Heretik]

You may recall from my previous life. I have a particular love for Hopper, most for his appreciation of light. And a certain inner shadow. His work without a human in the frame always possess a very certain but unsaid optimism. Those with a human accent, usually a woman's appearance, are less light. Some would say all is saved by the artist's loving hand.

[Rana]

I can see the inspiration, too. I've always liked Hopper, though I usually find myself becoming combative with critics who want to see his work as being about alienation and anomie. Myself, I find his portraits - both of people and of places - to be more thoughtful, contemplative, and inward looking, and I enjoy the peacefulness they elicit in me.

[Belvoir]

My favorite Hopper-esque moment on television was on Mad Men- the one titled "Maidenform" perhaps.

It's a scene of Joan, alone in her bedroom at night, contemplative. She's in 3/4 profile, her back to us, massaging the marks her bra-straps have left on her shoulders after a very long day. Lost in thought, wordless. The camera pans slowly, it's a lingering moment. And very subtle, unmistakeably invoking Hopper. It had a certain beauty, that scene.

[Dr X]

I can see Hopper in that image, too. Have you seen Gregory Crewdson's photographs?

[Lance Mannion]

Dr X, I think only the ones Norman Buckley included in his post. But I've put his book on reserve at the library.

[Dr x]

Good grief, how did I miss that?