Considered one of the most influential realist painters of the 20th century, Edward Hopper portrayed American life through moody tableaux which still possess a great deal of cultural influence. Born in 1882, just 25 miles north of New York City, Hopper was uniquely situated in time and place to witness the burgeoning of cinema as an art form. UK curator, gallerist and video essayist James Payne explores how Hopper was one of the first artists to be directly influenced by cinema, and how filmmakers were, in turn, influenced by his stark and contemplative visual style.
Through keen comparisons rendered side by side, Payne makes a compelling argument that the visual language of cinema has been shaped by fine art, and that Hopper’s work in particular was, and remains, an enduring influence on moviemaking.