Daily Artist: 100th Post! and Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882

Monday, March 7, 2011

100th Post! and Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) II

Automat

1927

100 posts! Wow, am I tired. To be frank, I thought many times of just writing a sweet fare-thee-well and quietly forgetting about this blog; but here I am 100 days–100 sequential days–later still posting away. And, as an aside, isn't it strange what magical powers a number has? 100 is nothing but one more than 99 and one less than 101, but both those figures are nearly meaningless when it comes to counting posts: why is a 100 a celebration?

As for this post, besides being my 100th, it is the first in which I've featured an artist for a second time. And who more fitting to re-feature than Edward Hopper, the headliner of my very first post? He's my favorite 20th century painter, whose works often treat light with a unique harshness that creates a sense of anxiety or even distress in the most placid scenes. I should mention, if you're in NYC, the Whitney Museum has Hopper's works on exhibition until April 10th (more information here). The Whitney supported Hopper while he was alive, even helping him through the Great Depression, so take a moment, if you can, to visit and patronize the Whitney.