Nighthawks by Edward Hopper: Great Art Explained
Please consider supporting this channel on Patreon, thanks! www.patreon.com/user?u=53686503
"What a brilliant series this is" - Stephen Fry on Twitter 12 December 2020
"Thoroughly researched and cleverly presented, with stunning visuals, Great Art Explained makes you realise that familiarity with a work of art sometimes makes us indifferent to its power" - Forbes Magazine, 9 July 2020
If you are affected by any of the issues in this video please go to www.samaritans.org
I started "Great Art Explained" during lockdown. My aim is to make videos which focus on one great artwork. I want to present art in a jargon free, entertaining, clear and concise way with no gimmicks.
Subscribe and click the bell icon to get more arts content. Each video takes me about three weeks to a month, so I download at least once a month:
kzhead.info/tools/ePD.html...
Edward Hopper’s world was New York, and he understood that city more than most people. He understood that, even though you may live in one of the most crowded and busy cities on earth, it is still possible to feel entirely alone.
This painting, was completed on January 21st, 1942, just weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbour and America’s entry into World War two.
That’s not to say the war was a direct influence, but the feeling of dread many Americans had, surely infused the painting.
Afraid of air raid attacks, New York had blackout drills, and lights were dimmed in public spaces. Streets emptied out and Hopper’s city was effectively dark, and silent.
CREDITS
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel does not claim any right over them.
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Movie clips (ALL USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES)
The Maltese Falcon - © Warner Brothers
The Killers (1946) - © Universal Pictures
Force of Evil (1948) - © MGM
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) - © Decla-Bioscop
Brief Encounter (1945) - © Eagle-Lion Distribution
Psycho (1960) - © Paramount
Giant (1956) © Warner Brothers
Twin Peaks, series 3 (2017) © - Showtime
L’Avventura (1960) - © Columbia Pictures
Deep Red (1975) - © Cineriz
Songs from the Second Floor (2000) - © BFI
Pennies From Heaven (1981) - © MGM
The End of Violence (1997) - © MGM
MUSIC & VIDEO Copyright Free Under licence Creative Commons
Main music - • Sad Cinematic Document...
Intro music: JS Bach “Sonata for violin solo No.1 in G Minor”
BOOKS
Edward Hopper Masterpieces of Art by Rosalind Ormiston
Edward Hopper: Portraits of America by Wieland Schmied
Edward Hopper: The Art and the Artist by Gail Levin
Simon Schama - The Power of Art
CREDITS
Artworks are used under fair use and for educational purposes.
© Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Josephine N. Hopper Bequest
© Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper/Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Photos
Edward Hopper and his father Garret in the backyard of their home in Nyack. Courtesy of The Arthayer R. Sanborn Hopper Collection Trust.
Great Art Explained totally unique merchandise available here - crowdmade.com/collections/greatartexplained
This paintings' basic appeal today is simply a view into another age and the silence and quiet desperation of those awake at such a late hour! It is simply a representation of a scene that could be located in any large American city! Simply evoking those feelings of any of us that have been out with nothing specific to do at such an hour! It would be best not to try to over explain any work of art. Let the creators themselves explain and then let it go. The magic in any work is not what inspired it, but what the viewer takes from it!
I’ve just come across your work and I’m an immediate fan. This is wonderful. This keeps me painting. I’m truly impressed.
I loved how in Blade Runner the diner Deckard ate at was in a similar night look even tho crowds were around
Are we sure that Hopper depicted _neon_ lighting (used exclusively for signs and accent lighting) for the diner's interior? Such lighting was not "new" as stated in the video. It had been around for about 30 years prior to Hopper's painting. What _was_ new and by just a couple of years (and commercially available) was fluorescent lighting, and it's the glow of _that_ which is strongly suggested by Hopper's painting. I bring this up since Hopper -- so attentive of and sensitive to lighting -- would not have got it wrong.
I like how the Art Institute has chosen to display this. It stands by itself and not surrounded by any others. The sense of isolation is enhanced that way.
When it was at the MFA in Boston it was by itself at the exit of the exhibit. It was stunning, to say the least.
Yes, even though I was only 17 at the time and didn’t understand the history behind the painting and everything it still impressed me that much for some reason that I had to buy a copy of it there
I grew up seeing this painting in the Art Institute and never understood its significance, love seeing some of the themes explained now that I'm older and can understand the context behind the painting
@@duishungry Same! Now I better understand why this painting always struck me as something unique from the others
V.C.T.,, One of the most profound experiences I ever had in an art museum was seeing this canvas at the Art Institute of Chicago circa 1988. I was in a gallery and I saw Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" in an adjacent gallery. There was a short (maybe 6 feet), vestibule with a couple of steps up and then down between the galleries As I traversed the vestibule, I saw "Nighthawks" on one wall and "American Gothic" by Grant Wood on the other wall. If I had stretched my arms out. I believe I could have simultaneously touched both canvases. It really made me really think about what the purpose of "art" was. Is the purpose of "art " to relate to the tradition of "art" within that cultural context or is it to say something about the society in which that artist lives. Nighthawks is resonant for my life and American Gothic, I believe says something about how the culture sees itself. I'm happy to hear that "Nighthawks" now has a place of honor.
As a very introverted person, personally I think this painting is rather calming. That diner's definitely not a place that I'll go to everyday, but if I need to be alone (or be alone with other people) after a hard day, that place looks like it has the correct vibes to me.
Thanks 🙏
This is EXACTLY how I've always felt about this painting. Whenever people explained it as lonely or isolating I always got confused because that's never how it made me feel. It always gave me a sense of cosy comfort for some reason. Not like overly joyous, but comforting nonetheless
Yes, this exactly.
That's so interesting, as a 29 year old woman, I'd never go to a place like that because I'd be harassed. It stresses me out just looking at it. Men would call me from the windows and some would come in and try and talk to me. Its frightening and exhausting. I know my friend would feel exactly the same way. We go to places where its hard to see in, dim lighting, smaller windows, secure. Where we don't have to pretend to be nice to men that just want to use us.
Shoooot being used isn’t all that bad no weirdo shit but if ur good looking and u show sexual vibes I mean a lot of dudes won’t resist to see what is good-ington, let’s go to a club or drink or go to a movie or smoke hookah or walk around the scene, get pizza if we get weirded out by each other then shit we tried too hard or someone did, but using you could very well still be a vibe hahah I for one am not really introverted person but I do shy away from verbal conflict if I sense competition in a way where it’s just jealousy or miss understanding it embarrasses me since I do have low self esteem I have a lazy eye lol and my face isn’t really that attractive idk but hope u have a good day or night !
I love how “Nighthawks” can evoke different feelings/emotions to different people. To me, it’s a very calming painting. It almost reminds me of a dream, where you’re wandering in a dark, empty city. You don’t feel scared or anxious at all; you’re actually quite content with just wandering alone in the still dark silence, until you come to this warmly lit diner with just a handful of people that feels like a safe haven. As you join them, you feel a sense that you and these people are the only ones awake in the city, and nothing else matters except what’s going on in the diner.
beautifully put. I don't understand all the talk of alienation regarding this. Anyone who has ever spent time working third shift or wandering night streets understands what is going on here. There is as much peace and reflection as there is alienation and feeling alone
@@robins.2749 not for me. people say this artists renderings depict isolation and sadness without making one feel isolated and sad. But I feel that way when I look at them. However, I am a depressive and feel that way much of the time so ... lol
I saw it that way too, maybe I like small settings away from the crowd. I've been in situations like that in real life so of course I identified this painting with that. The colours are amazing as well. Always loved that deep green and the rich brown of the wood. I'd love to go there and have a late night coffee and a snack.
@@bcluett1697 So would I. Would love to walk in and sit down on one of those stools. Those kinds of places always had pretty good food too.
Yes this is a cool well lighted place.
As some who has worked graveyard shifts, Nighthawk feels to me like those sleepy hours at work. Or driving at night. It's calm and un-rushed, the opposite of big city life.
I used to work night shift in Seattle and while the architecture is different, driving by the one dennys on the way to work reminded my of this painting, at like 1 am the Dennys was the only place really open and there would be like 2 or 3 people inside and no activity on the streets
Thats very true. Something about seeing night people and hearing from night people give me a sense of my people n that's maybe why I at least love nighthawk.
I think this series is absolutely incredible.
Oh thank you! Thanks
Agree, incredibly interesting.
It really is!
@@GreatArtExplained I'd really love to see Zdzisław Beksiński next, or some day :)
My favourite art channel!
My grandmother is Maude Hopper, and Edward Hopper is a family relation. We all love "Nighthawks" and we are very proud of the work of Edward Hopper. It is sad to see his torment, but it resulted in such stirring artistic pieces that are iconic and timeless. xo
Wow - thanks for commenting! 🙏
@@GreatArtExplained Great work, and my pleasure!😀👍🎨🖼
Pop power to be honest I was so happy that we got the time and it will take forever for me too lol to be sure it’s true it’s just okay I don’t pop it out now but it was good too I don’t have a lot too lol but that’s what poopooooopppppppppppppo
@@GreatArtExplained I have to say Wow too. Wow!
@@ronchung8078 Forget to take your medication that day, Ronnie?
When I first started cooking in my local diner, I started on graveyard shift. Years later, I'm the assistant restaurant manager. But whenever I see this painting I think of those long, lonely nights. My late night regulars, or coworkers, helped me get through and pass the time. Those lonely people looking for someone to talk to, who were also in sticky or emotional spots, made friends with me. And years later after I've seen them gone, I always think of them when I see this painting.
It could be a psychedelic experience to stay in the restaurant on graveyard shift every now and then and compare your feelings.
"Couples who may share the same space but inhabit different worlds." Man I love how you phrased this!
“It is unclear who this random glass is for. Maybe it’s for us” I felt that in my core.
I read this comment just as that was said.
I thought that was the most unfortunate point the narrator made in his interpretation. The themes of loneliness are already very explicit without resorting to a search for discovered meaning in every minute detail. The glass is clearly stained & finished by a presumably departed customer, i.e. not "for us" who want to avoid dirty glasses. Critics should stay away from such overtly literary symbolic interpretations of art that are far too subjective for an essentially objective painter like Hopper -- recall he still thought of himself as an "Impressionist", obsessed with the subject of light as much as isolation & silence.
@@milfordmkt I totally agree with you. I hate that it just can't be a glass on the counter..... Face it, it's a diner. They have cups and glasses ect on the counter at most times... just realism on the part of the artist. Why does it have to have some deep alternative meaning ?? It takes a lot of nerve to put YOUR INTERPRETATION on someone else's work, and probably would puzzle the artist if he were able to hear that particular comment about the glass. He might just say, " It's a damn glass, that's all !" Pisses me off when people take liberties like that, and need to find deep profound meanings in every single nuance of a painting such as this one. The interpretation could go all different kind of ways, but only one guy knows the truth, and he painted it. Next, we'll be hearing of the special hidden significance of the salt shakers...
@@milfordmkt @Henry Ottis I'm gonna have to agree with both of you. He prepared all of his paintings so much... More than likely was not thinking of "us" the viewer at all. He was thinking about what's happening there in the scene. And as an illustrator you are telling a story.. And that story is there was another customer there just moments ago before who left and is now out in the city no longer in the diner.
The empty glass probably represents a guy like Hopper, who went in on his own, had a quick drink, and left. I'd see it that way.
So many times, it seems to be the case that artists are presented to history as solitary beings who exist in vacuums -- completely unique and almost mythical heroes who stand above and are unrelated to the rest. In the way that you connect Hopper with his wife and with the Impressionists; in the way you connected van Gogh with Jo and Theo; and in the way you connected Picasso's "Guernica" with the political attitudes of his day and the imagery he accessed via his encyclopedic knowledge of art history -- in all of this you are adept in your attempts to drop artists back into the real world -- time, space, relationship, influence, cause and effect, action and reaction. It's brilliant; thank you.
YOU’RE brilliant
Very well said!
Sounds like a lotta bullshit. Any new human would write it completely different. It’s a wonderfully illustrated opinion. Narrative, if you will. And as we know it cannot be true, it is opinion and is a false narrative. It’s how CNN exists.
There is no truly transcendental art, and I think thats the beauty of learning about art. What makes certain pieces so great that they *seem* to transcend the contexts and boundaries of their time.
Exactly so..Well said!! 👍💝👍👏🐈🙏
I used to be an extrovert and sociable. Now in my 40’s with a lot of weight on my shoulders I’ve become much more introverted and less keen on being around many people. I’ve always loved this painting then and now that diner draws me in. A quiet place, there might be a conversation to be had or to overhear. The night is my favourite time because it’s quiet, I’d love to go in there and just sit down with a drink.
It is ironic and strange that Hopper hated his job as an illustrator, but that his paintings are in fact very illustrational.
Who’s the boss? And when is this next sketch due? That is work you can learn to hate.
Spot on. The difference - he was forced into certain subject matter by the client while illustrating...
Oh, the poor man. Able to finance his work with dreck. If so many artists could be so lucky.
It was widely circulated in the artist community that "Hopper was a bad painter but a great artist."
I never associated emotions of tension, anxiety and uneasiness with Hopper´s paintings. To me the mood is tranquil, introspective, calm, thoughtful, dreamy, melancholic, longing. If I could, I would like to live in his paintings.
WOW, I though I was the only one that thought that 😯
Agree.
@@davidguyette2586 What?
For me it's like, I look at the diner in the painting and it just feels *wrong*, for lack of a better term. It doesn't feel like how a diner or cafe should look like, in the 1940's or in any time period. The walls are a sickly shade of yellow and completely barren. The bar is a strange triangular shape, and is also mostly empty aside from the 2 huge coffee dispensers. There's no means of entry visible in the scene, but huge wraparound windows which offer absolutely no privacy for the diner's customers. It looks like a stage in a play, or like something out of a dream, but it certainly does not look like a place which is safe and welcoming.
@@LuvzToLol21 There are plenty of places like this in big cities, especially those with a diagonal streets on grids (Chicago, for example) where triangular layouts on corners happens the entire length of those streets. Also I’m not sure why you think dining in public has some requirement of privacy.
I was fascinated by how much prep work went into this painting, especially the numerous sketches and revisions Hopper made.
A lot of work requires more prep work than is apparent in the finished work. Oddly things don't just happen, often.
It was neat to see the sketches he made in the planning phase.
Same.
Seeing the sketches and how everything came together just demonstrates an artist ability to make a vision come to life
The Diner is such a comforting painting to me. Funny how it’s portrayed as eerie. I always felt like it was a safe space.
I can feel this painting. You've finished a long shift, you step out into the cool night air, there's a diner, brand new, fresh paint, it's still a while before closing.
This video essay is a true masterpiece - all of your videos are but this one was especially deep and emotional. As an artist, myself, and having an artist as my partner the tensions between Edward and Jo are very understandable yet it is incredibly tragic that they couldn't find a connection to each other. I wish more art historians would focus on human beings instead of the abstract constructs that many artists are portrayed as! Thank you so much for these wonderful insights!
This women simply put it perfectly, a ‘true’ masterpiece. One of the best short documentaries on art I’ve ever seen.
It is interesting that Jo and Hopper had so much in common being both artists, yet couldn't find an emotional and spiritual connection. Its actually kind of tragic. I really wonder what the problem/s were in their extremely complicated and volatile relationship.
I'd like to think that the camera's weren't around for the good moments they enjoyed together. Even in toxic relationships, there's still times that justify it, as if there was no good to be had they shouldn't have gotten together initially. Granted, it doesn't sound like they hosted a healthy partnership :( Thats life though. Just gotta try and make sure it doesn't become you, I guess.
@@suzanadee8252 I can’t understand why Hopper would have got married at all. Both of his relationships were similar. Distant and seemingly joyless with lots of stress. I think there are a lot of people that look for that specifically. I don’t know why.
@@soarornor I dont know. People look for partnership and happiness in marriage, but it doesnt always work out that way in life. Obviously, he thought that he found the right person. And its possible that there was something flawed about him that caused his relationships to be this way.
My day is a thousand times better now
1000 x 0 = 0
@@linussteiner7651 so deep……
Well said
Understandable have a nice day
The first time I saw this painting in an encyclopedia, I was about 12 years old. I stared at it for half an hour. I was totally intrigued
Yes not sure why it is so captivating but it is.
The bleakness of post- Depression Empty streets/ storefronts- the huge deathtoll of the ongoing War
It had that effect on me too.
same i just saw it in chicago and i couldn’t stop staring at it🤷
Waiting for it to start moving..
"Characters waiting for their stories to be told" and the concluding argument, that we are not alone in being alone are what i find most fitting to this painting For me it doesnt feel tense nor does it feel comfortable. For me, it portrays emptiness and numbness. The presumed couple looks like they couldnt care less if they are together or not. It feels like a social necessity to have a "significant other" but they cant seem to find anything "significant" in their lifes. You could say they ironically are a perfect match
There is pain in this painting.
You talk about Hopper's storytelling ability - yours is also wonderful and impressive. Your videos always have a clear and flowing narrative that I find makes them so compelling. Thank you for making the great videos that you do and bringing art to life
Thanks for the compliment! 🙏
@@GreatArtExplained Thank you so much for all the effort you put in making these videos. The narration, background music etc. are all top notch. This channel has become my guilty pleasure 😇😇 P.S - In future can you also cover paintings from India? Its definitely a treasure chest and i would love to see you shedding some light on those paintings.
This is my favorite painting. Ever since I was a kid this painting stroked some deep crevice of my mind that I couldn’t understand.
Amen
Couldn't have said it more accurately myself
Have you ever looked into MBTI?
Me too.
Beautifuly put. I wholeheartedly agree.
There was a copy of this artwork in my middle school’s library. I remember staring at it for what must’ve been hours.
I still remember the first time I saw this painting. Prior to that time, I never really *got* art, as they say. I still don't know what exactly it is about Nighthawks, but I feel deeply connected to the subjects and I somehow still feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness every time I see it. Incredible.
I remember recommended this artist in one of your video and forget about it, so i kinda shock to see Night Hawk in here. I lived in Hanoi, a crowded city in Vietnam. I used to be so lonely sometimes that I would take my motorcycle and drove through alleys and abandoned streets during midnight. I looked at apartments, street light and through the window of nearly empty restaurants. Sometimes I would just sat by a lake, and even see couple kissing secretly somewhere (trust me, i am not a creep, it is just that a lake is where couple love to date) Yet I never felt sad, never felt miserable. I enjoy that quite and alone time of myself. I think that why I connected to Edward Hopper so much. The loneliness that not miserable but quite, calm and leaving you a breathing room in amidst of busy cities. I am sure not just me but many people appreciate this type of loneliness. Thank you Jame for tell us a story of Hopper through your video. I am sure as antisocial as he is, he will appreciate your video
I know exactly what hopper is getting at. I like the feeling Of being alone in London - thanks 🙏
Have you seen the movie Amelie? If you haven’t you should! I think you would really like it. Thank you for your comment and May Jesus Christ bless you🙏🏼❤️
I visited Hanoi a few years ago. I wonder if the lake is the one in town. The town was so bustling. But at night, I suspect there could be feelings of loneliness.
@@chessdad182 there is a lake called west lake, it is very large. Near the lake are field that allow you to be alone and watching the moon. I think the lake you mentioned is sword lake though
Thanks for this.
For April fools day, you should do a video on “bold and brash” by Squidward Tenticles
YES YES YESSS
This but unironically
I'm 100% into the idea of reviewing fictional art or well art in fiction, I guess In fact, if he doesn't do this, I might have to swipe this idea ngl 👀
Yeeeeeees please
It’s actually a great painting
I love Nighthawks. How you explained it was planned with perspective and color, how the characters' emotions are 'unresolved', and how they don't react, how there is a story and the really really depressing surrounding, like these are the only 4 people left on the earth. What a legend.
This channel's information, narration and story telling is art itself.
Agreed
Netflix needs to snap you up ASAP for a looooong series! You have such a unique perspective and the effort you put into every story is outstanding. It is truly appreciated by us silent watchers❤️❤️❤️
Thanks 🙏
I remeber seeing this painting as a teenager in an art-book and feeling deeply touched.
Hey you were asking for it you little tease
I am currently facing some serious and arduous obstacles in my life and although I know I'm not the only one who is currently facing this it definitely feels like I'm disconnected from the rest of the world, your explanation of this painting and the emotions it originally gave me when I saw it speaks true to my current experience.
I’m sorry to hear that - art is a great healer. Good luck
@@GreatArtExplained Thank you.
I had the pleasure of seeing this painting in person last week in Chicago. Couldn't walk away from it....
This is really amazing. Art is not "anything goes" nor "any interpretation is valid". It has real communication. I have loved Nighthawks for years now and it's my background on my desktop. I never knew why I liked it, but this video revealed it to me. I was alone before I was married. My marriage too is a lonely affair and in the final stages of collapse. I'm also in a new province surrounded by people I know but nobody is a friend or family. Empty, disconnected, and isolated is how I feel. I never made the connection between Nighthawks and my life, but my God I see it now. Thank you for this video.
Thanks for the comment and for opening up. Good luck with the future - 🙏
Hope thing turn around for you soon.
Feeling that for you. In my own way I’m lonely too….the seemingly incongruous fact of loneliness within a marriage is a painful one to reconcile. Hopper projecting his experiences of this which, as always, stem from both nature and nurture, are sad yet somehow consoling and normalising to those of us who relate to and seek to understand this state of being. 🙏
TRUST IN GOD AND DO A LOT OF BRISK WALKING TO GET PAST THIS VOID. BLESSINGS
It's been 9 months since you wrote that comment. I sympathise with you and I can relate to what you were feeling. I hope that if your marriage has ended, it ended peacefully and you are seeing light and beauty in your life, and if it has not ended, I hope it has transformed into something connected and fulfilling. May you, and your (ex)spouse, be well and happy.
It’s such a sad thing really to see an artist who isn’t happy or appreciates their work, but the best art usually comes from pain and an attempt to escape it. So many people who art insanely talented, trapped by their outlook on life to a minuscule existence.
The welcoming lighting reminds me of the nicer truck stops we have along the Interstates in the US. I'll stop in for a bite to eat and relax a bit before continuing on my journey wherever I am going, and usually meet nice people along the way. I've always seen the painting as relaxing, as a Night Owl I'm often awake at odd hours, and the stillness and quiet of the world is a great feeling from the normal busy days.
After having seen your video I can’t stop noticing references to this painting. Even in the new Batman the dinner scene is inspired by Hopper’s work.
Yes I saw that too and it’s definitely referencing this painting
I love the absolute feeling of reality in Hopper’s paintings. Not in the accuracy of the lighting and the perspective (although that certainly helps) but the mundanity of it all. All of his paintings feel so regular and relatable, but appear to have a greater emotional depth. It’s like having a routine interaction with a stranger while knowing that they have something greater and more personal going on in their mind. We don’t know the greater stories of these strangers, the same way we don’t know the stories behind the scenes in Edward Hopper’s paintings.
Andrew Wyeth's paintings occur that way to me as well - depth in the mundane.
Magic realism? Both Hopper and Wyeth.
Looking at the lives of artists is a never ending fascination, each and every one has their own unique tragedy... It is sad. But some say it's the price of true art.
I would say it's the price of life.
the price of fish?
It's not that it's the price of true art, but rather that you need to experience life (it's ups AND downs) in order to have anything to say on the subject. You wouldn't trust a guy telling you about the jungles of some country he'd never been to, nor should you trust an "artist" who paints, sculpts, writes, or sings about something they haven't been through. And that doesn't mean it has to be exactly what they've been through. I doubt Joseph Conrad went through exactly what he wrote about in "the heart of darkness". But he had experienced human tragedy and all the emotions that he put into the book. We see tragic artists lives as tragic mainly because we are shown the tragic things they show us, but it's really no different than a cubicle monkey or a stoner working a fast food job. But those people don't have the same use of their voice that an artist does
As a lit major, I find that many classic authors were also in secluded and or unhappy places. Maybe gifts which enhanced their gifts.
When I think if art, this is the picture that returns to me every time. Probably my favourite of all paintings.
Everything I've seen from this series (Great Art Explained) is extremely well done. Concise, insightful, with great choice of images and very professional editing. My wife and I, both very familiar with fine art, are very grateful to have access to this excellent collection.
I think this painting is more relevant than ever, given how many people in a-world with 7 billion people and social media feel so isolated and alone
Yes, today's equivalent would have them all looking at smartphones but the effect is still the same.
I remember eating at the dorms by myself freshman year in college. I didn’t plan on watching this video but the thumbnail felt so relatable…
during a global pandemic you blame social media for isolation....? it's keeping many of us together, bud. even elders using it to talk to grandchildren and other family...
In today’s version, the woman would have a cell phone in her left hand.
@@Someone-fn3ij Yes. Social media was making people lonely even before the pandemic. It's just a medium for bragging to other people, be it your friends, audience, whatever. That's all social media is.
AP Art History was my favorite class in all of grade school. Over the years I have fantasized about being able to afford the time and money required to study art history. This video, which randomly showed up in my feed, is incredible. I feel like this series would teach me more than I could have hoped. Thank you.
There’s so many on line courses now with reasonable prices - just a thought
Just discovered this channel and love it! My Grandaddy Frederick Sweet was at the Brooklyn Museum and then for decades was Curator of paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago. He was friends with Mr. Hopper and I believe he chose to purchase “Nighthawks” for the Museum.
Hey, its my pleasure meeting you here 😊 I must confess loneliness is very bad and since I lost my wife and unborn kids I feel always annoyed. But whenever I listen to this i feel better God is great happy new year 2022🙏🙏🙏🏝🏝🏝💕💕😍
He did a great job- Thank you !
Hopper’s work acquired an extra level of eerie during this pandemic.
What pandemic?
I just love an obsessive, disciplined artist. Sometimes the work that appears simplistic is deceptively complex. I’d love to see this in person.
one of the best series on all of youtube.
love ur channel
What dat vaporwaveboi be doin here?
I love this painting. Very peaceful, quiet, and calm.
I might be stretching but Gotham of Batman the animated series gave me the same feeling this painting did as a kid. One of my favorite paintings.
this painting changed my perspective of art and has been a favourite of mine ever since
If Hopper noticed peoples loneliness back then imagine what he would see now.
The woman would be holding her cellphone instead. The man a vape.
He would see people talking to “their friends” on phones. I ask: who are all these friends? Do they really exist?
M A - He did not really “notice peoples loneliness” so much as he projected his own issues onto the characters in his paintings, including his own toxic relationships. As long as you brought it up though, the percentage of people who are lonely today is no different than it was 80 years ago. Furthermore, back then, as today, his perception of the world would not necessarily be representative of the world that most of us occupy. There is actually no such thing as an objective reality. We all see the world differently based on how healthy or unhealthy our individual attitudes toward life are. In other words we see it through the filter of our own baggage. And based on the last quote in the video, Hopper himself was actually intelligent enough to realize this.
@@SLOBeachboy no objective reality? So does that mean gravity doesn't work if you don't believe in it?
@@Lunch_Meat I think no objective reality in the sense of how gravity effects us for example, the same amount of gravity can be holding down a 20 year old and an 80 year old but the effects of gravity will most likely have more of a noticeable effect on the 80 year old - it would be more difficult to get up. So yes, we can measure gravity but when you take something like loneliness, how do you measure that? People feel loneliness differently and some people when they feel it may have the sense that other people have a constant feeling of loneliness as well even if they don't. It'd be like if the 80 year old who had trouble getting up assumed that gravity was holding other people down just as much, gravity is a force that can be measured but that doesn't mean it effects everyone equally and loneliness doesn't seem to be something that can be measured and may not effect some people at all
I can’t believe how evocative that sketch he did at the age of 9 - Little Boy - that slump of the shoulders and the bleak sky! 9 years old!
This is my absolute favorite painting in the entire world
I can't remember what I was intending to watch when I opened KZhead, this is infinity better. Thank you.
"It's probably a reflection of my own loneliness, I don't know." I like that he kind of thought about the meaning but easily gave up on it. Even though he carefully planned out the images to be just right, to feel right, he wasn't actually formulating any clear, specific message that he could explain out loud.
This is a power of art- everyone will find a reflection of their own feelings, memories and stories. A huge thanks to the author of this channel!
There are people that can make you feel much more lonely then being alone.
Better to be alone than wish you were.
I am now watching "Batman: Year One" from 2011, the same day as I watched this video, and I just noticed that they used the painting for that movie as well! What a coincidence. I wondered: "Is it just me or ..." But then I noticed that the diner in the Batman movie was called "Hopper's". So it was a clear reference.
I have seen the Nighthawks painting in the Museum of the Art Institute of Chicago. There really is nothing like seeing an iconic piece of art in person.
I can't dispute the well documented sense of sadness & Isolation - and yet Hopper's paintings always make me feel happy and connected. Thanks for this lovely video.
I'm a complete, absolute introvert. This painting makes me happy. Whenever I look at Nighthawks , I start to smile. The window , dark lane , the man sitting alone , waiter and the couple , give me a sudden feeling of peace . May be I'm an introvert and a loner that's why I always feel connected to this painting , this painting is a sort of fresh breeze to me. I'm not any art expert but , I absolutely love Nighthawks.💞💕
Hey, its my pleasure meeting you here 😊 I must confess loneliness is very bad and since I lost my wife and unborn kids I feel always annoyed. But whenever I listen to this i feel better God is great happy new year 2022🙏🙏🙏🏝🏝🏝💕💕😍
I have always thought the lighting from inside the diner as florescent, and the woman as holding a book of matches, but the man somehow unable to ask for those matches to light his cigarette. Amazing dive into one of my favorite paintings of all time, thanks for sharing
Thanks for that - we’ll never really know., but I love how we see different narratives! 🙏
I like the matchbook idea because it's such a film noir sort of painting and matchbooks always seem to be a major clue in so many of those detective stories. Like maybe it later shows she was at a particular hotel , and there's a match missing and she doesn't smoke so she must have met someone etc...
@@coachhousechambers2047 Hahaaa yes indeed ... the old matchbook trope thing
Good one. I just figured Hopper forgot to paint the smoke of the sigaret. This makes so much more sense
Hopper was a master In conveying solitary mood with bright colors and shadows, its juxtapositions ,using angles. I am glad i was able view this piece which was on loan from Chicago in the old Whitney museum. This painting is immense.
My dad had a print of Nighthawks hanging over the bar in our vacation house in Mexico. It’s been there since before I was born. So I’ve seen it my whole life. I never felt any sense of dread looking at it. To me it looks eerie but comforting. Everyone looks calm and enjoying the silence. It feels like the couple just finished watching an opera show and wanted to get a quick coffee before going home. And the man behind the counter seems to be talking, maybe asking it the guy with his back towards us wants a refill on his drink. We all see art differently. I do know Edward hoppers style has impacted the way I imagine things. Amongst other art styles (Frida Khalo, Dali, Ray Caesar and so on)
i have spent countless hours watching all the golden age classic films, they are truly the best. its a real treasure to see this mans work, his contribution to the very essence of timeless scenery. these are moments which continue to exist after everything has gone. i believe this particular painting is of the afterlife. the cafe is solitude, a moment which spans an endless void, and always exists somewhere out there deep into the night. the light inside seems bright, as if you are looking into the heart of man.
As an art enthusiast myself, I really appreciate your videos and perspective on these paintings. Your videos are one of the finest I've seen so far. This channel is reeeaaallly underrated. I really hope you get what you truly deserve:)
Thanks Alisha 🙏
Your Welcome ;)
Toward the end there, the narration almost shifts from talking about the art piece to describing my life. Thank you.
This is my first time seeing Hoppper's works beyond Nighthawks. I really like them. Something solitary while simultaneously peaceful and melancholy and with a subtle tension. You made me into a Hopper fan.
For those of us living in big cities, the central motif here is loneliness. It cannot be avoided. The place is separate from its sleeping surrounds. It is "of," yet not a part "of." Isn't that the nature of much of Edward Hopper's milieu? Out that window might be reality, but I am not out there. A wall separates me from that reality. I am alone.
My favorite title of a book: "The Unbearable Lightness of Being." The people in that picture are not together; each one of them is alone, alone in their thoughts, their griefs, their fears, their "quiet desperation." This is a painting of aloneness.
Thank you for highlighting how Hopper’s works initially took off. So many talented, intelligent women have been buried in history, art history included. Thankful to Jo for her contribution to the art world.
Hey, its my pleasure meeting you here 😊 I must confess loneliness is very bad and since I lost my wife and unborn kids I feel always annoyed. But whenever I listen to this i feel better God is great happy new year 2022🙏🙏🙏🏝🏝🏝💕💕😍
"... and he only produced about 5 paintings a year." That's 5 more than most of us. Thank you for this analysis. I always wondered why Nighthawks has such a captivating effect on those who admire it.
Most of us are not professional painters.
Love the comparisons of Hopper's paintings and how they influenced other films, especially Twin Peaks next to the Gas painting!!
I’ve always been intrigued with this painting. That sense of loneliness. The late night. The contrasts between the interior and exterior.
Hopper's paintings are some of my favorite pieces of art. I can stare at them and feel I'm there.
I'm an omnivert, but Hopper has been my favorite artist for my entire adult life. And I think that "Nighthawks" is my favorite painting of his. For some reason, I find that sense of isolation in most of his paintings to be very comforting. Thank you so much not only for this examination of his entire body of work, but for showing us the influence that his art had on so many movies!
Really looking forward to a video of Dali's psychedelic stuff
Ufff- yes! Completely agree. I have never understood his paintings, so this is a great suggestion👍🏼
I'd also like to see more surrealists, especially Leonora Carrington and Max Ernst.
Dali's my favorite artist. So, I'm looking forward to that as well.
@@vitamind.d.fishinsea8570 I don’t need explanations for art or music. The worst is when creators try to explain why; or worse, savagely critique their own work from the past because they don’t care about anymore. Best to just let it slide.
One of the few times KZhead recommends something that really interests me. Excellent video! I thank you for explaining in such a clear and yet profound way. Subscribed instantly.
...I loved listening to the story of this painting... of course I've seen it many times, but now it has become really alive...
I've been binge watching your videos and was really pleased when I saw this one - I've always wanted to understand more about why I feel the way I do when I look at that painting. Great work - very interesting
Thanks 🙏
I’m still not entirely sure what it all adds up to, but Nighthawks is provocative, difficult and bleak and leaves you with a very precise feeling of despair and aloneness - just like many of Hopper's paintings do.
This is the first painting that ever affected me in a profound way. I remember seeing this painting and not being able to take my eyes off of it, and how much sorrow I felt for him. For some reason I had this feeling I hope I never become that lonely of a man.
I have been aware of this painting forever, but having the context explained- the year 1942, Hopper’s working life and methods, his fraught relationship with his long time partner- all of this adds so much to my understanding. Thanks for this.
I am addicted to your voice, the way you explain everything is marvelous..These videos somehow helping me to grow as a person.. thank you for making such videos... Lots of love.. ❤️
Thanks 🙏
So many times I hear about how success is knowing the right people. He spent years considered a failure only to find success when his wife introduced his work to the right people. It makes me consider the relationship between what society deems to be great and how it is introduced. *not to imply that he isn't talented, because I think he is and I like his art.
Thats a great point. To which end should he give credit to his wife for exposing his art to the kind of people to propel it to higher levels? The art was always good, it just needed to be seen.
@@nagsterthegangster3548 exactly. I really don't get the whole "his wife was a masterful painter and he was just so jealous of her he spent his entire life belittling her muh wahmen" she had the connections, it's not like she inspired him or anything ...
@@dekooks1543 oh you're one of those people
@@aisha02a yeah those that speak the truth sorry honey
@@dekooks1543 oh no, not at all! something ENTIRELY different
Just seen this the other day. Chicago’s art museum is definitely one of my favorite places to visit. A vast collection of masterful works resides there.
I never felt a sense of isolation in this painting. For me, it always had a calm feeling about it. I see two people sitting together in companionable silence. Maybe they've just spent all night out, they're tired, but they don't feel like going home yet, so they're winding down with some coffee and quiet conversation. It's a peaceful scene, removed from the noise and haste of the day.
Hopper: "I was just sketching in a bar. I'm a draw what you see kinda guy." Great Art Explained: "Pish. You're a legend. This is meat and veg to us. Your profile is about to go stratospheric."
thank you for another great analysis! the tv series Mad Men seems to take a lot of inspiration from Hopper as well - there are so many frames that give me the same feeling of loneliness and emotional isolation as these paintings. the matching time period only enhances the similarities
What I like this painting is that feeling of melconly, loneliness and silentless can still apply today. With COVID, conflicts, and all our personal struggles, I can related to painting. To me this a painting calm melconly moment in a storm.
Grew up in Chicago and Nighthawks has always been my favorite painting. It's a bit bigger than one might think, and the way it's displayed in the Art Institute makes it extra striking. It just pulls one in and instantly evokes the feeling of walking alone down an unexpectedly quiet city street in the dead of night.
This is one of my favourite pieces of art and I've never known what it was called. Excellent video, dude 👌🏽
Thank you!
This painting brings me peace imagining this scenario at a cafe past midnight, when some people just wanna grab something to eat and go home, and in the middle of this, eventually few costumers open their focus to hear the curious and enlightened story the waiter has to tell, wich perhaps can change their view of life.
Same. It's very cozy to me. The city outside looks like a ghost town while these four are huddled together in a relatively inviting-looking diner.
That was fantastic. Why am I getting teary eyed making my morning coffee ☕
This channel's information, narration and story telling is art itself.. I think this series is absolutely incredible..
I'm always fascinated by paintings depicting people going about their lives - they pull me in, and I my mind wanders trying to imagine who they are, what their lives are like, and what happened to them. Thanks for another great video, and please keep them coming.
This is not at all how I perceive Hopper. I find him - above all - honest, a brilliant editor leaving out staffage, uplifting and soothing. My favourite painter.
I find his paintings haunting. By that I mean there's something profound that tugs at my heartstrings and yet I find it so hard to put into words what it is about his art I like. I really hope I get to see his painting in the flesh at some point. Until then Canaletto is probably my favorite painter... or Monet (technical brilliance vs emotional genius... how do you call it?)
I love the paintings of Hopper. I was introduced to him via my good friend Andrew Beattie and we now have two Hopper reproduction prints in our house. Andrew died in 1999 and as a tribute to him, Keith Page and I had a print of Hopper's 'Nighthawks' painting displayed in Maghull Town Hall, Merseyside, UK. Andrew had been a Maghull Town Councillor for many years, a Sefton Borough Councillor for Maghull and even had a year as Mayor of Maghull. I found this video very interesting and informative.
Thank you I’ve always been interested in Hopper’s work but I didn’t know much about it. I love that he didn’t give up on himself when he wasn’t selling.
Thanks for commenting🙏
That's the key test
"If u die then u will become famous and everybody will appreciate your work but when you're alive then u are a simple man" - Someone
That’s because when you’re dead, other people can take advantage of your genius talents for profit.
The tv show "That 70's Show" did a small tribute to this painting in one episide!
didn’t seinfeld do one too? i might be misremembering the that 70s one tho
Whoever is reading this, I hope you have a great day! Here is some artist inspiration for you 🎨 ✨ kzhead.info/sun/gtuKptaImH5qrYE/bejne.html
The Simpson’s did also. For an instant to start a scene. I believe it was ‘Homer vs the Eighth Amendment’. Great episode too!
So did Shameless in its last season
Thank you I was trying to remember which show it was
I've loved Hopper's paintings since I first saw one in my 20's. His lighting and colors were mesmerizing. I've been a fan since.