Customer Reviews

Hopper

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Just because the previous reviewer didn't get what he expected from this volume doesn't mean it isn't brilliant in its own right. From an outsider's perspective (I am not an art critic, but a literary scholar), I found Mark Strand's insights into Hopper's work to be refreshing and insightful, the first collection of art criticism I have read that speaks thoughtfully and intelligently to its readership without making the assumption that the reader already has the thoughts and inclinations of the critic him or herself. Instead, this is a book that teaches, and I am grateful for it!

This is not a book for anyone seeking information on life and/or the works of the great Americn painter, Edward Hopper. Pictures are all in black and white, while few facts about his life ae given.
This is a book solely for the person sufficiently familiar with the artists work to appreciate this outstanding poets reflections on the impact of some of his paintings and some fearures in the picture which produce those effects.
Most will find little meat for thought here. Most will find these minimal responses unsatisfying. Those who know the poetry of this Pulitzer prize winning Poet Laureate of The United state will gain some insight into the workings of his poetic perspective when turned on the subject of Hopper's painting.
Others who want to tune in to a poetic sensibility writing prose may find it gratifying.
It is a very quick read with each selection taking no more than a few minutes to read although those who want to apply Strand's conceptions to their own appraisal of these works will find much more to chew over.

I found this thin volume inadequate, as it barely mentions some of Hoppers most important themes such as silence, voyeurism, & loneliness. Strand spends approximately two poorly developed paragraphs each on a number of paintings, often providing nothing more than a description peppered with bland geometric terms. Insight is lacking. Additionally, the black and white reproductions are tiny therefore don't serve much of a point. Without quality reproductions of rigorous analysis, this book provides little to either the casual reader or the erudite scholar. In the preface, Strand acknowledges that this volume flies in the face of previous scholars, though he must have meant he was going against quality analysis with support.

I would recommend J.A. Ward's American Silences instead.