Nighthawks

The Art Institute of Chicago (the USA).

Canvas, oil.

He created this most famous painting during a short period of his career when such works began to be sold and brought him world fame. The plot, according to Edward Hopper, is permeated with the feeling of loneliness that every person sometimes feels in a big city. The artist and his wife Josephine kept a diary, where the master made a preliminary sketch of each picture, accompanied by technical notes. Then Joe added more information. This picture is described in great detail. In particular, the title of the work is rooted in the hawk nose of one of the characters. Levin, a biographer of Hopper, suggested that the artist might have been inspired “Café Terrace at Night” by Van Gogh, which was exhibited at the New York Gallery. The similarity of themes and lighting makes this possible. However, the generally accepted version is that the picture was made according to the story “Assassins” by Hemingway. When it was filmed in Hollywood in 1946, Hopper’s canvas served as the basis for more than a story. This is indicated by typical Hopper’s scenes and the appearance of an additional character – after all, things rarely happen without the participation of the fatal beauty.