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. 

Self-Portrait

1903

The Lee Shore

1941

Barn and Silo, Vermont

1927

The Barber Shop

1931

House at Dusk

1935

Gas

1940

Morning in a City

1944

The Long Leg

1935

Cape Cod Afternoon

1936

Night Windows

1928

Sheridan Theater

1937

People in the Sun

1960

Adam's House

1928 

Chop Suey

1929 

Summer Evening

1947

Nighthawks

1942

Le Bistro or The Wine Shop

1909

Two Comedians

1965

Self-Portrait

1925-1930

Wayne Thiebaud (November 15, 1920)

                                                                                                  

Yellow Mickey Mouse Cake

1998

Thiebaud, as a late bloomer, did not begin to seriously paint until his 30s (though he had worked as a cartoonist since the age of 18). His mature style began to take shape after a lengthy visit to New York City, where he found himself in the company and under the influence of Willem de Kooning, Jasper Johns, Franz Kline and Robert Rauschenberg. From that point on, he created many works in the Pop Art style, such as the piece above (he is known for fixating on food stuffs in his Pop Art). Still, he has produced many artworks that have fallen well outside the realm of Pop Art, such as his American Scene Painting pieces (obviously influenced by Edward Hopper); honestly, I prefer the latter, such as the almost Post-American Scene Painting below, with its wonderfully strange treatment of perspective, Hill Street (Day City). 

Hill Street (Day City)

1981

Man Sitting - Back View

1964

Around the Cake

1962

24th Street Intersection

1977

Girl with Ice Cream Cone

1963

Charles Burchfield (April 9, 1893 - January 10, 1967)

                                                                        

Moon and Thunderhead

1960

Charles Burchfield is an amazing and absolutely unique painter, who developed a very singular style: often  representing long periods of time (hours, days, seasons) within a single frame, expressing light and motion in symbolic rather than realistic fashion and, of course, turning to a child's vision of the world. Burchfield was highly admired during his lifetime, a period when abstraction was far more the mode; he was, most notably, revered by the equally talented painter Edward Hopper. Was there and will there be anything really like him?

Sunlight in Forest

1916

Moon and Thunderhead

1960

Lavendar and Old Lace

1939-1947 

Beginnings with Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967)

Hi there. Welcome to the blog. So, you may be wondering, what is it all about? What's the point? the purpose? the goal? Well, being an art lover, my plan is to post, every day, the works of one great artist. That means that, on here, you should daily discover something new or fondly revisit something old. Pretty straightforward, huh? 

Anyway, without further ado, let's jump off with a favorite of mine, Edward Hopper: 

Ground Swell

1939

Cape Cod Evening

1939

The Mansard Roof

1923

By the way, suggestions, criticisms, compliments and soliloquies are always welcome. A hi is also appreciated.