Edward Hopper: Automat

Many thanks Andrea. Hopper’s paintings are like scenes from a half finished story. What happened before the scene in the painting and what happened just after? It all adds to the mystery and I love it. Cheers - Gary

Thanks Ellen. Cheers - Gary

Thanks David. Cheers - Gary

Thank you Marikate. I love to ponder artworks, particularly those of Hopper. I'd love to know what happened just before and just after this scene. Cheers - Gary

I didn't know that about Hopper. So interesting. I'm sure every great painting has its own back story.

Thank you Ellen. I watched a film about Hopper that didn't particularly show him in a great light. His wife Josephine Nivison Hopper posed for this painting although features of her face were changed - and she was a great artist in her own right. Cheers - Gary

I'm guessing Timothy if that such a movement starts up I will take up extrapolating poets' works and hope the artists start painting us. :) Just to balance things you understand. Thanks for the visit and your great comments as per usual. Cheers - Gary

Thanks Line. All the best. Cheers - Gary

Thanks so much Robert. 'Night Hawks' is my favourite Hopper painting too. I wrote a poem about that particular work here at PS in March this year. In this 'Automat' poem I used the oxymoron "alone together" which I think best describes many of Hopper's works. Cheers - Gary

Hi Ken. Its great to hear my poem has helped spark an interest in Hopper for you. This is one of four poems about Hopper's paintings that I have written and published here at The Soup. Thanks so much for your comments. Cheers - Gary

Thank you so much for your comments ab. I truly appreciate them. Cheers - Gary

Hi John! Yes, my 4th foray and, yes, you are correct: 'The Roaring Twenties'. :) I'm interested in the period Hopper painted this as it was just two years before the longest and deepest downturn in the history of the United States. The years before the Great Depression were a period of great social and economic growth (The decade known as the said Roaring Twenties) and she looks 'well to do'. Perhaps the subject just wanted a time out from the parties or her busy work schedule? I wonder if the 'still life' bowl of fruit is there to reflect the 'stillness'of the atmosphere? I don't know of course but I like guessing and second guessing with Hopper. You are correct; each picture he paints provides a scene from some bigger story that the viewer is never party to. Thanks again John for your insightful comments and lovely compliments. Read you soon. Cheers - Gary

Yes indeed Gary Sir Poetry is all the colors of the rainbow and so much more

I'm actually a red Christopher but what's football when it comes to poetry? :) Thanks for your visit. I'll take a trip to your pages over the next few days. Cheers - Gary

That's another cult series I need to return to. I'm currently Irwen Allen -ing through Time Tunnel, Land of Giants and Voyage to the Bottom Of the Sea at present. Thanks for the visit and great comments. Cheers - Gary

Thank you Laura. Apparently there is a documentary about Hopper opening in cinemas here in the UK this week. I've just read about it but it doesn't exactly paint a great picture about Hopper the person by all accounts. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Thank you Brian. My wife and I were fortunate enough to view a Hopper exhibition at the London Tate many moons ago and were captivated. I've loved his work ever since. Much appreciated and Cheers - Gary

Thank you Juliet. I'm never sure with Hopper as to whether he uses symbolism or not. I'm just dying to know what she's thinking and what her story is. Guess I'll never know. :) Cheers - Gary

Hi Ann! I believe there was one in New York until the 1990s. I ate in a couple in The Netherlands (at railway stations) during the '80s but I don't remember UK ever having one during my lifetime. If we did I've never been in one here. The white of the table and crockery and the white of her face against the black of night drew me into this picture. I wonder if that radiator is on and is she cold? Is she alive? :) Questions, questions. I love Hopper's (possible) stories behind his subjects. Cheers - Gary

Thank you Michael - that was my aim so I appreciate your comments. As a side, I believe Hopper's wife (Josephine Nivison Hopper) posed for this painting although features of her face were changed by Hopper. Cheers - Gary

Hi Wendy. I know what you mean about his paintings being 'rigid'. They are almost like photographs but I like to try and piece together the stories behind the snapshots. Where has the lady been? Where is she going? I suspect the gloveless hand is simply because it's easier to hold a cup with. That sort of thing..Thanks so much for the compliments. Cheers - Gary

Thank you ilene. This is the 4th poem about Hopper that I've written here at PS. :) The bowl of fruit had me scratching my head. What's that doing in a 1920s' vending machine restaurant? I settled for the idea of 'still life' - a still air - a theme Hopper often revisits in his paintings. Cheers - Gary

Hi Sara. Thanks so much. Just read your blog update. I'll comment on it tomorrow. Take care. Cheers - Gary

Hi Vickey. Thank you for the visit, read and comments.Much appreciated. I think Hopper's paintings have an atmosphere all of their own so I tried to capture at least a smidgen of it. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers - Gary

Hi Sam. Still feeling a little 'off' but hopefully I'll be much better tomorrow. I love Hopper's paintings - there's an 'other worldly strangeness' about them. Snapshots of Americana that always leave me wondering what the full story behind the subject is. Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

I've got mine this Saturday, my wife has had hers and didn't have a reaction but my daughter felt rough for days after.

Hi Tom. Had my covid booster and flu jab yesterday and feeling a bit under the weather today. I had to force myself to publish the poem today and enter it into Brian's contest - but glad I did. Your comments have really helped brighten me up. Cheers - Gary.