More artists: Brian O’Doherty lecture on Hopper’s Windows

Currently there is an exhibition of Edward Hopper’s works at the Whitney Museum of American Art. It focuses on Hopper’s artistic process, how he proceeded from initial studies in drawings and watercolour to final painting. I’ve been there a few weeks earlier and have commented on the visit in the context of coursework for OCA Drawing 1.

Today I went to the Museum to attend a lecture by Brian O’Doherty, titled “Hopper’s Windows”. Brian O’Doherty became friends with Edward Hopper in the 1960s when he asked to interview him for his TV show featuring contemporary artists. He’s the author of a film based on that TV interview. I had hoped the film would be presented but instead O’Doherty talked about the topic of windows in Hopper’s work and also on their friendship, answering questions from the auditorium. The lecture was a bit lengthy, but nevertheless I liked the central idea. It made me realize how important windows are in Hopper’s paintings!

Several paintings were presented during the lecture which made me look at them more thoroughly than I did when walking through the exhibition. There were also paintings included I hadn’t seen because they are exhibited elsewhere. I had become aware during the exhibition visit that Hopper was interested in “dramatic light” and chose light situations that reminded me of watercolour course’s instructions to part III, tone and composition, dramatic interiors.

I had remembered Hopper’s paintings as nicely made, but too realistic and too severe for my taste. Now studying them a bit more closely, I feel very attracted by the way Hopper painted simple surfaces like walls with vivid undertones within a simple main colour. This has changed the way I look at the buildings when I walk through the streets of New York. I always liked the play of light on stone facades but now I feel more confidence to actually paint this when the occasion comes. I share the pleasure of looking at architectural details that is said to be prominent n Hopper’s paintings and drawings. O’Dohery pointed out in his lecture that Hopper painted these details at a time when no-one else had even noticed they might be interesting. When I look at these paintings, it’s like “oh yeah, I like that, too”. I’m admiring the way he painted the details by painting their shadows.

I’m including some of the paintings presented in the lecture just as a reminder.