Years of struggle Edward Hopper

summer interior (1909)

after returning last european trip, hopper rented studio in new york city, struggled define own style. reluctantly, returned illustration support himself. being freelancer, hopper forced solicit projects, , had knock on doors of magazine , agency offices find business. painting languished: s hard me decide want paint. go months without finding sometimes. comes slowly. fellow illustrator, walter tittle, described hopper s depressed emotional state in sharper terms, seeing friend suffering...from long periods of unconquerable inertia, sitting days @ time before easel in helpless unhappiness, unable raise hand break spell.

in 1912, hopper traveled gloucester, massachusetts, seek inspiration , made first outdoor paintings in america. painted squam light, first of many lighthouse paintings come.

in 1913, @ famous armory show, hopper earned $250 when sold first painting, sailing (1911), had painted on earlier self-portrait. hopper thirty-one, , although hoped first sale lead others in short order, career not catch on many more years. continued participate in group exhibitions @ smaller venues, such macdowell club of new york. shortly after father s death same year, hopper moved 3 washington square north apartment in greenwich village section of manhattan, live rest of life.

the following year received commission make movie posters , handle publicity movie company. although did not illustration work, hopper lifelong devotee of cinema , theatre, both of treated subjects paintings. each form influenced compositional methods.

at impasse on oil paintings, in 1915 hopper turned etching. 1923 had produced of approximately 70 works in medium, many of urban scenes of both paris , new york. produced posters war effort, continuing occasional commercial projects. when could, hopper did outdoor watercolors on visits new england, @ art colonies @ ogunquit, , monhegan island.

night on el train (1918) edward hopper

during 1920s etchings began receive public recognition. expressed of later themes, in night on el train (couples in silence), evening wind (solitary female), , catboat (simple nautical scene). 2 notable oil paintings of time new york interior (1921) , new york restaurant (1922). painted 2 of many window paintings come: girl @ sewing machine , moonlight interior, both of show figure (clothed or nude) near window of apartment viewed gazing out or point of view outside looking in.

poster illustration, smash hun (1919)

although these frustrating years, hopper gained recognition. in 1918, hopper awarded u.s. shipping board prize war poster, smash hun. participated in 3 exhibitions: in 1917 society of independent artists, in january 1920 (a one-man exhibition @ whitney studio club, precursor whitney museum), , in 1922 (again whitney studio club). in 1923, hopper received 2 awards etchings: logan prize chicago society of etchers, , w. a. bryan prize.