Edward Hopper
Office at Night
1940
Oil on canvas
22 1/8 x 25 inches
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Edward Hopper’s Office at Night, 1940 oil on canvas is a composition of disconcerting issues. Depending on the viewer, the painting can be interpreted as “A power struggle, a political comedy or the build-up to an office romp” or even the paradox between the ‘outstanding and the unnoticed’.
The painting depicts a man and woman (most likely his secretary) working late one night (apparent as the darkness of the night is seen through the window) alone amidst a scene of great tension. The man is sitting at his desk preoccupied in paperwork while ‘a voluptuous secretary’ stands nearby, twisted in a provocative position where much of her ample physique is presented. However due to the vagueness in detail, her eyes could be either fixed on him or, the piece of paper on the ground in-front her blown by the wind. If it is the latter, she may be wondering if her attire permits her to retrieve the paper and furthermore the result of such. The man is seemingly unaware of anything not-on-the-table then again, maybe he isn’t. The artwork itself is rather plain, having little detail or furnishings but it is overrun with elevated tension and isolation.
Their story:
It's quite simple really, he's a lawyer who is married not only to his wife (obviously) but to his work too. With his extensive hours, he spends a lot of time at the office. His secretary, naturally spends all day sitting opposite him in a relatively small room and not to mention the over-time. As time passes, her affection for him grows though she knows that nothing can happen for just about every reason. Still, she takes solace in believing that 'something could happen', so she dresses two sizes too small and submerges herself in make-up every morning in the hope that one day... he might just notice her.
Generically, the site would be in a city where it is rather cramped but still thriving with important business people. To be specific, let’s say it is in the A Accident Lawyers Office, on the corner of Wall and Beaver Street, New York City. (Not specifically a law building but the location.)
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/H/hopper/ntoffice.jpg.html
Office at Night
1940
Oil on canvas
22 1/8 x 25 inches
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Edward Hopper’s Office at Night, 1940 oil on canvas is a composition of disconcerting issues. Depending on the viewer, the painting can be interpreted as “A power struggle, a political comedy or the build-up to an office romp” or even the paradox between the ‘outstanding and the unnoticed’.
The painting depicts a man and woman (most likely his secretary) working late one night (apparent as the darkness of the night is seen through the window) alone amidst a scene of great tension. The man is sitting at his desk preoccupied in paperwork while ‘a voluptuous secretary’ stands nearby, twisted in a provocative position where much of her ample physique is presented. However due to the vagueness in detail, her eyes could be either fixed on him or, the piece of paper on the ground in-front her blown by the wind. If it is the latter, she may be wondering if her attire permits her to retrieve the paper and furthermore the result of such. The man is seemingly unaware of anything not-on-the-table then again, maybe he isn’t. The artwork itself is rather plain, having little detail or furnishings but it is overrun with elevated tension and isolation.
A small, curvaceous enclosure longing for attention and affection lingers.
Their story:
It's quite simple really, he's a lawyer who is married not only to his wife (obviously) but to his work too. With his extensive hours, he spends a lot of time at the office. His secretary, naturally spends all day sitting opposite him in a relatively small room and not to mention the over-time. As time passes, her affection for him grows though she knows that nothing can happen for just about every reason. Still, she takes solace in believing that 'something could happen', so she dresses two sizes too small and submerges herself in make-up every morning in the hope that one day... he might just notice her.
Generically, the site would be in a city where it is rather cramped but still thriving with important business people. To be specific, let’s say it is in the A Accident Lawyers Office, on the corner of Wall and Beaver Street, New York City. (Not specifically a law building but the location.)
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/H/hopper/ntoffice.jpg.html
