Edward Hopper

Until March 10th 2008

Isolation, introspection and the empty spaces of modern life; these are the hallmarks of Edward Hopper’s instantly recognisable paintings. This exhibition centres on his most productive years, from the mid-1920s to the 1950s, with famous works such as “Chop Suey” and “Nighthawks”. But it also includes a handful of lesser-known early pieces, such as “Night on the El Train”, a 1918 etching that hints at many of his later themes. A man and a woman sit in a railway carriage, their relationship ambiguous, their distance from the viewer exaggerated by a line of empty seats. Few artists have so ably captured the nuances—and loneliness—of modern living.

The Art Institute of Chicago, 111 South Michigan Ave. Tel: +1 (312) 443–3600. Open: Mon-Wed, Fri 10.30am-5pm; Thurs 10.30am-8pm; Sat, Sun 10am-5pm. See also the museum’s website.