Edward Hopper's New England (Essential Paintings) [Hardcover]

Carl Little (Author), Edward Hopper (Painter)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1566403154 | ISBN-13: 978-1566403153 | Publication Date: September 1993

Edward Hopper, one of the most important American painters of the twentieth century, spent nearly every summer of his prolific career in New England—a region with coastal views, mansardroofed houses, and a still light that served as the inspiration of many of Hopper's greatest works. This comprehensive collection presents some of Hopper's finest paintings of New England, providing a guide to the places that resonated so deeply with the artist throughout his career.

Carl Little's essay examines the crucial role New England played in Hopper's development and considers the full range of his work devoted to this subject: early etchings and radiant watercolors; architectural paintings of Victorian mansions, factories, barns, and summer cottages; and magnificent sailing pictures through which Hopper expressed his lifelong love of the sea. Also included are late-career psychological paintings—composites of the landscape with figures—which convey the loneliness and isolation for which Hopper's work is best known.

On the coast of Maine, along the shore of Cape Ann, among the hills of Vermont and the bluffs of Cape Cod, Edward Hopper found the New England landscape to suit his sensibility. Edward Hopper's New England explores the artist's profound relationship with the region, from his scenes of Gloucester's sail-filled harbors and sunlit streets to his monumental lighthouse paintings, which have become icons of American art.

Back in print, this second, revised edition of the classic best-seller offers an updated, fresh design. Includes selected bibliography.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Hopper (1882-1967) is best-known for his portrayals of nocturnal loneliness in an urban setting. His landscapes and seascapes, inspired by summers spent in coastal Maine, Glouster, Cape Cod, and the hills of Vermont, share a similar sense of desolation and stillness. Little draws from the many standard studies, then adds his own personal criticisms, to develop the 12-page essay that accompanies the 35 color plates in this slim, handsomely designed picture book. Additional black-and-white illustrations are tucked into the margins of the essay. This will be of interest mainly to general readers with a love of the region.
- Kathleen Eagen Johnson, Historic Hudson Valley, Tarrytown, N.Y.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A previous edition was published in 1993, but there's no doubt that the world has room for this revised and reformatted second edition collection of work by painter Edward Hopper (1882-1967). The format is relatively small for an art book (10.5x9 inches)--a pleasant size that accommodates full-page presentation of 33 paintings. Art writer Little (formerly director of the Blum Gallery at the College of the Atlantic) provides the text, explaining that Hopper spent all his summers in New England and that these were highly productive times for him. A selected bibliography completes the book. --2011, Book News Inc. Portland, OR --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 88 pages
• Publisher: Pomegranate (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566403154
• ISBN-13: 978-1566403153
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 10 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,802,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From the Publisher, November 19, 2005

By 

Earl R. Sutton "earlsutton" (Detroit, MI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edward Hopper's New England (Essential Paintings) (Hardcover)

"Edward Hopper (1882-1967), one of the most important American painters of the twentieth century, spent nearly every summer of his long artistic career in New England. This book presents many of Hopper's finest paintings of the region and examines the crucial role New England played in Hopper's development as an artist. Carl Little is author of Paintings of Maine and is a regular contributor to Art New England and Art in America.

"88 pages, 35 full-color reproductions, 21 black-and-white illustrations, size: 10 x 10 3/4". Casebound book, with dust jacket. ISBN: 1-56640-315-4."--© Pomegranate

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Collection of Edward Hopper Paintings, October 17, 2003

By 

Timothy Kearney (Haverhill, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Edward Hopper's New England (Essential Paintings) (Hardcover)

EDWARD HOPPER'S NEW ENGLAND is a collection of some of Hopper's works of art inspired during his travels in New England. Though Hopper was primarily a New York artist, he spent many summers in New England and produced many of his most memorable paintings during his visits. Some of his visits were to New England's best known artist colonies such as Gloucester, Monhegan Island in Maine, and Provincetown. People familiar with current Cape Cod artists will see the way in which Hopper inspired a good number of them when they see his paintings of Truro and Provincetown, two of Hopper's favorite locales. Many of the locations can still be found today, though they have changed over the years. The paintings of Gloucester bring the simplicity of this old fishing community alive. The pictures from Maine are some of Hopper's famous depictions of lighthouses and sailing vessels. Some nature scenics are also included in this volume. The landscapes, architecture, boats, and people depicted in Hopper's work show his range as an artist.

People who love Hopper's work will appreciate this book because it contains not only some of Hopper's better known works from various museums but also works in private collections.

Hopper's subjects are not complex, nor are they glamorous in and of themselves, but with an artist such as Hopper, we are able top see beauty in places we might otherwise miss. This book is a must for people who love and appreciate artists' renditions of New England. It is also a perfect gift for people who love New England.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Works of Edward Hopper, August 26, 2011

By 

Lori Swetnam (Belton, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Edward Hopper's New England (Essential Paintings) (Hardcover)

I am a fan of Edward Hopper's works, so I love this book. The first 12 pages are filled with a concise biography and history that gives the reader an understanding of the subject matter and the artistic renderings of Edward Hopper. The author gives a short summary of each of the 35 paintings that you find in the rest of the book. The 35 prints are 6x9 inches, and when viewing you will see the information about the painting on the left hand side of the open page, and on the right hand is a single print in color.

Great book!