Home » Poems » Gary Radice » Edward Hopper: House By the Railroad

Poet Ekphrasis

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Poem published: 8th May 2022

Edward Hopper's "House By The Railroad" (Oil on canvas 1925)

Edward Hopper: House By the Railroad

bathed in still shadows
from an afternoon glow
and wrapped inside splendour 
half faded half gone
this house from a time
remote silent and slow
stands trapped by the past
in a world moving on.

americaarthousemysterysymbolismekphrasis

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Gail Debole

March 13, 2023 at 5:37 AM

Your beautifully worded thoughts enhance the beauty of this painting. - Gail

Gary Radice

March 13, 2023 at 10:52 AM

Thank you so much for your lovely comments. Cheers - Gary

Sara Kendrick

June 30, 2022 at 12:22 PM

Congrats on your winning work in Brian's contest. That is an unusual painting, but I recently saw a movie with one that looked similar from a distance. It was out west on a very large farm but of course, it could have been a movie set. Your visit to my page was encouraging. I appreciate the time spent there. Sara

Gary Radice

July 1, 2022 at 12:36 PM

The Addams Family, Giant, Days of Heaven and Psycho are some of the films that based the houses featured on this very one..allegedly..I read it somewhere. :) Cheers - Gary

Paula Goldsmith

May 31, 2022 at 8:04 AM

Congratulations on your win. A beautiful story/write to go with a beautiful painting. Have a blessed week...............

Gary Radice

May 31, 2022 at 8:43 AM

Thanks Paula. By all accounts the houses that appear in "The Addams Family" and "Psycho" were influenced by this painting. Cheers - Gary

Bryan Norton

May 22, 2022 at 7:11 AM

When the people in this house aren't using the train, they use the bus stop. Good job, Gary, in shedding some light on another Hopper.

Gary Radice

May 22, 2022 at 11:59 AM

Thanks Bryan - and love your subtle humour too :) Cheers - Gary

John Watt

May 18, 2022 at 8:43 PM

I like your comment below about the symbolic contrast between the railroad and the house as a modern and old fashioned dichotomy. I was also thinking of the solitary home being a representation of Hopper's common theme of alienation and detachment. Or the home symbolizing the stationary soul and the train tracks being the world going by your window. Evocative, like much of Hopper's body of work. I love your poem, especially how the first two lines treat the shadows. Your meter is always a delight to my ears. Nice work, Gary.

Gary Radice

May 19, 2022 at 8:42 AM

Thanks John. It's always a pleasure to read your comments. I agree with all you have said regarding the symbolization. He remains a fascinating artist. Read you soon. Cheers - Gary

Paul Callus

May 13, 2022 at 12:37 PM

An excellent transmission of time & space, Gary. Congratulations on your fine win. Regards // paul

Gary Radice

May 13, 2022 at 10:19 PM

Very much appreciated Paul - Thanks. I'm debating as to whether I should write a third Hopper ekphrasis to make it a trilogy of Hopper 'appreciation' poems following 'Nighthawks" (published 8th March 2022) and this. Comments such as yours Paul have proved very encouraging and helped me to decide. :) Thanks again. Cheers - Gary

Sam Kauffman

May 10, 2022 at 9:45 AM

What a wonderful ekphrasis Gary. "Bathed in still shadows," "trapped by the past," "half faded and gone." Each line is a treasure trove in images and emotions of pensive longing. Congratulations on your well deserved win! Cheers! I think this house was also used in the updated film version of Yours, Mine and Ours!

Gary Radice

May 10, 2022 at 10:14 AM

Thanks for that Sam! I hadn't heard of the film 'Yours, Mine and Ours' before. I believe the house Hopper based his painting on is a Second Empire style Victorian mansion in Haverstraw, New York, where it still stands today. (Thanks Google) :) Cheers - Gary

Christuraj Alex

May 10, 2022 at 7:10 AM

So beautiful. Congratulations!

Gary Radice

May 10, 2022 at 10:11 AM

Thank you Christuraj. Cheers - Gary

P.S. Awtry

May 9, 2022 at 4:51 AM

This paints its own picture. Beautiful work :) ~ps

Gary Radice

May 9, 2022 at 5:13 AM

Thank you. One of my aims for the poem was that it could be read alongside the image of the painting and also be read separately from the image as a stand alone poem so your comments P.S are very much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

Anselmo Boles

May 8, 2022 at 4:50 PM

The product of a bygone era trying to withstand the test of time, struggling to keep pace with the present, eager to envisage the future. An excellent piece!...ab

Gary Radice

May 8, 2022 at 11:10 PM

Thank you for your visit and lovely comments about my poem. Much appreciated. Cheers - Gary

L Milton Hankins

May 8, 2022 at 3:57 PM

Superb ekphrasis. You have captured the essence of the house along with its historicity. Certainly the time of this house has faded just as has the house itself, still trapped by the past.

Gary Radice

May 8, 2022 at 11:04 PM

Thanks Milt! This and 'Nighthawks' are my favourite Hopper paintings. I've already written a poem in praise of the former so I thought it was time to write about this. I love how the railway lines cut across the bottom of the house. Cheers - Gary

David Kavanagh

May 8, 2022 at 1:06 PM

Fantastic dichotomy of spacetime Gary, past, present, and future, seems irrelevant and pertinent, simultaneously captured, wonderful work and wording, cheers David

Gary Radice

May 8, 2022 at 1:21 PM

Thanks David. I love Hopper's works - there's a 'strangeness' to them..other worldly snapshots of Americana. I'm unsure if he uses symbolism or not (I view the railway as progress catching up with the slow times of the past) and note the half opened blinds - the house waking up perhaps to the changes? I appreciate your valued comments - Thanks again and Cheers - Gary

Edward Hopper: House By the Railroad

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