Edward Hopper: Painter of Light and Shadow
On the front cover is Night Hawks, Hopper's landmark painting of city loneliness; on the back is Ground Swell, which captures the excitement of young men sailing. On every page of this beautifully designed biography readers will find a reproduction of Hopper's work, matched to clear, eloquent commentary. The facts of Hopper's life are here, including his struggle for recognition when realism was not fashionable. There's also some examination of his images of boats, buildings, and lighthouses, and how he used light and shadow. Perhaps most eloquent is the discussion about the feelings Hopper captured in his work—the secrecy he evoked in lighted rooms glimpsed from city streets at night, the loneliness of a deserted house near a railroad. Back matter includes a bibliography, full source notes, and a list of museums that display Hopper's paintings. Readers, including some older than the target audience, will come back to read about the man and look at his art again and again. Rochman, Hazel