Monday, October 8, 2012

An American In Paris: Edward Hopper Restrospective Opens

The NightHawks






By Thomas Adamson, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — A major Edward Hopper retrospective in Paris reveals that
the 20th century painter famed for his rendering of American life drew
inspiration from France.
The show's curator Didier Ottinger told the Associated Press on Monday that
Hopper was "a lifelong Francophile" who first visited Paris in 1906. That was
just after an important exhibition of the influential Fauvism movement known
for its strong use of color.
Ottinger said he clearly took influence from participating artists like Henri Matisse
 even though Hopper's palette is more muted. "You can see it in his large, solid
 color masses," he said.
The illuminating collection includes some 128 Hopper works — such as lonely
masterpieces "Gas,""Hotel Room"and "Soir Bleu" — alongside 35 comparative
works from French artists who influenced him.
Hopper, who died in 1967, took two other trips to the French capital in 1909
 and 1910, exploring its salons and grand museums, such as the Louvre.
Among the other artists featured in the exhibit is Edgar Degas, whose work, the
exhibit catalog suggests, encouraged Hopper to incorporate dramatic angles into
 his own paintings. This technique later became one of his artistic signatures, such as
 in his most famous work "Nighthawks" from 1942, which resembles a still from a film noir.
"He always used to say, even late in his life, that he was a post-Impressionist. France
was so important for him," added Ottinger.
The exhibit, which draws from collections in the United States, Spain and France,
 opens at Paris' Grand Palais Wednesday and runs through January 28.
____
Thomas Adamson can be followed at http:/ /Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP
A woman looks at "Hotel Room, 1931" as part of the retrospective of Edward Hopper, one of the great American 20th century artists at Paris’ Grand Palais Museum, in Paris, Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. This major Hopper retrospective reveals that the 20th century painter known for his rendering of American life, also drew inspiration from France, and includes some 128 Hopper works, such as the masterpieces “Nighthawks” and “Soir Bleu”. (AP Photo / Francois Mori)A woman looks at "Office at night, 1940" as part of the retrospective of Edward Hopper works, one of the great American 20th century artists at Paris’ Grand Palais Museum, in Paris, Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. This major Hopper retrospective reveals that the 20th century painter known for his rendering of American life, also drew inspiration from France, and includes some 128 Hopper works, such as the masterpieces “Nighthawks” and “Soir Bleu”.(AP Photo/Francois Mori)A man walks by a Eugene Atget photography display as part of the retrospective for Edward Hopper, one of the great American 20th century artists at Paris’ Grand Palais Museum, in Paris, Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. This major Hopper retrospective reveals that the 20th century painter known for his rendering of American life, also drew inspiration from France, and includes some 128 Hopper works, such as the masterpieces “Nighthawks” and “Soir Bleu”.(AP Photo/Francois Mori)A woman looks at "Gas 1940" as part of the retrospective of Edward Hopper, one of the great American 20th century artists at Paris’ Grand Palais Museum, in Paris, Monday, Oct. 8, 2012. This major Hopper retrospective reveals that the 20th century painter known for his rendering of American life, also drew inspiration from France. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

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    PARIS (AP) — A major Edward Hopper retrospective in Paris reveals that the 20th century painter famed for his rendering of American life drew inspiration from France.
    The show's curator Didier Ottinger told the Associated Press on Monday that Hopper was "a lifelong Francophile" who first visited Paris in 1906. That was just after an important exhibition of the influential Fauvism movement known for its strong use of color.
    Ottinger said he clearly took influence from participating artists like Henri Matisse even though Hopper's palette is more muted. "You can see it in his large, solid color masses," he said.
    The illuminating collection includes some 128 Hopper works — such as lonely masterpieces "Gas,""Hotel Room"and "Soir Bleu" — alongside 35 comparative works from French artists who influenced him.
    Hopper, who died in 1967, took two other trips to the French capital in 1909 and 1910, exploring its salons and grand museums, such as the Louvre.
    Among the other artists featured in the exhibit is Edgar Degas, whose work, the exhibit catalog suggests, encouraged Hopper to incorporate dramatic angles into his own paintings. This technique later became one of his artistic signatures, such as in his most famous work "Nighthawks" from 1942, which resembles a still from a film noir.
    "He always used to say, even late in his life, that he was a post-Impressionist. France was so important for him," added Ottinger.
    The exhibit, which draws from collections in the United States, Spain and France, opens at Paris' Grand Palais Wednesday and runs through January 28.
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