--- title: Top 10 Paintings | 'Nighthawks' by Edward Hopper description: "Flame Tree Art of Fine Gifts: in this blog we look at the fantastic and unforgettable painting 'Nighthawks' by the revered American artist Edward Hopper." image: https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hubfs/Nighthawks-1.jpg --- - [Home](https://info.flametreepublishing.com/blog) | - [ Contact & About Us](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/contact-us) T H E   F L A M E   T R E E   B L O G ![](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hubspot_Header_Layers-3.jpg?width=980&height=200&name=Hubspot_Header_Layers-3.jpg "Hubspot_Header_Layers-3.jpg") # Visual & Decorative Arts Blog # Top 10 Paintings | 'Nighthawks' by Edward Hopper Posted by [Josie Mitchell](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/author/josie-mitchell) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) To Americans Edward Hopper’s (1882–1967) art **epitomises their country** during a period of change in the early-mid twentieth century. As skyscrapers rose up in New York, Hopper observed the **isolation of modern living** in a crowded city. In the countryside he observed the **landscape** in all its beauty and the vernacular **architecture of rural and suburban America**. Above all the lives of **individuals were observed** without comment; Hopper left it to the viewer to complete each narrative. **![Nighthawks-1.jpg](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Nighthawks-1.jpg?width=706&height=385&name=Nighthawks-1.jpg) ** ### A Diner at Night *Nighthawks* is perhaps Edward Hopper’s most famous work. Produced in 1942, whilst the nation was at war, it depicts **four figures, three customers and an employee**, in a diner at night. In a typically Hopper manner, the **narrative is obscure**, the spectator remaining uncertain as to the **relationship between the figures** within, and indeed why he or she is situated on the empty street looking in. ### Preparations for *Nighthawks * Hopper planned his paintings very carefully, as can be deduced by his **preparatory studies**. In his early studies for *Nighthawks* (one of which can be seen below) Hopper captured the effect of the **artificial light flooding out from the diner** which illuminates the nocturnal scene. He also used the studies to carefully plot the** position of each figure** and the spaces between them so as to emphasize further the **sense of isolation**. From his various preparatory drawings, it is evident that Hopper **gradually shifted** the viewpoint, from showing the diner straight on, as if from the opposite side of the street, to a more **oblique angle**. This shifted perspective, exaggerated still further in the final work, makes the spectator’s gaze **more surreptitious, less confrontational**, and thus adds greatly to the overall sense of **mystery and alienation**. ![WA_American.jpg](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WA_American.jpg?width=706&height=378&name=WA_American.jpg) **Medium:** Oil on canvas **Dimensions:** 84.1 cm × 152.4 cm (33 1⁄8 in × 60 in) **Location:** Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois *If you are impressed by Hopper's emotive works and would like to see more, and learn about his intriguing life, then take a look at our book *[Edward Hopper: Masterpieces of Art](http://www.flametreepublishing.com/Edward-Hopper-Masterpieces-of-Art.html). *Alternatively, take a look at our *[Edward Hopper wall calendar 2017](http://flametreepublishing.com/Edward-Hopper-wall-calendar-2017-Art-calendar.html)* for a great Edward Hopper painting for every month of 2017.* ### Links - Have a browse of [Edward Hopper's official website](http://www.edwardhopper.net/) for more quotes and paintings by the artist.  - Take a look at the fascinating timeline of Hopper's life produced by the [Met Museum](http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hopp/hd_hopp.htm).  - For an unparalleled look into Edward Hopper's life take a look at the [Edward Hopper House Art Centre](http://www.edwardhopperhouse.org/).  **Check out all of the** **Top 10 Paintings blog posts!** - Top 10 Paintings | 1 | [*The Kiss* by Gustav Klimt](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-the-kiss-by-gustav-klimt) - Top 10 Paintings | 2 | [*Composition VII* by Wassily Kandinsky](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-composition-vii-by-wassily-kandinsky) - Top 10 Paintings | 3 |[*In the Well of the Great Wave of Kanagawa* by Katsushika Hokusai](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-in-the-well-of-the-great-wave-of-kanagawa-by-katsushika-hokusai) - Top 10 Paintings | 4 | [*Starry Night Over the Rh**ô**ne* by Vincent Van Gogh](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-starry-night-over-the-rh%C3%B4ne-by-vincent-van-gogh) - Top 10 Paintings | 5 | [*The Scream* by Edvard Munch](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-the-scream-by-edvard-munch) - Top 10 Paintings | 6 | [*Fighting Temeraire *by J.M.W. Turner](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-fighting-temeraire-by-j.m.w.-turner) - Top 10 Paintings | 7 | [*The Persistence of Memory* by Salvador Dali](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-the-persistence-of-memory-by-salvador-dal%C3%AD) - Top 10 Paintings | 8 | [*Nighthawks* by Edward Hopper](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-nighthawks-by-edward-hopper) - Top 10 Paintings | 9 | [*Water Lillies *by Claude Monet](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-water-lilies-by-claude-monet) - Top 10 Paintings | 10 | [*Ophelia* by Sir John Everett Millais](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/top-10-paintings-ophelia-by-sir-john-everett-millais)   Topics: [Edward Hopper](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/topic/edward-hopper), [American art](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts/topic/american-art) ### Subscribe for email updates ### FREE Download [![FREE online magazine here](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/293166/284b0214-b58c-42d7-acb5-91f1fcd82c9c.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/293166/284b0214-b58c-42d7-acb5-91f1fcd82c9c) Download a digital magazine, Flame Tree Arts, with a special edition on **Art Deco.** ****![Flame Tree Arts Mag 01 cover resized 171](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/file-247369099-jpg/images/flame-tree-arts-mag-01-cover-resized-171.jpg) ### About us *The Art of Fine Gifts: *from luxury notebooks, foiled journals, art calendars, iphone cases, books and illustrated ebooks FLAME TREE Combines beautiful detail and exquisite craftsmanship across a range of elegant gifts. ![FLAME-TREE-Hubspot-Head.gif](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hub/293166/file-398222920.gif?width=251&height=354&name=file-398222920.gif "FLAME-TREE-Hubspot-Head.gif") ### Stay up to date: ### Subscribe by Email ### Posts by category - 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