Night Windows 1928

Edward Hopper’s “Night Windows,” now at MoMA, is made with oil paint on canvas, materials that might seem straightforward, but they are anything but. Notice the darkness of the scene. The paint is layered to create a sense of depth, with each stroke contributing to the overall texture. The oil allows for a slow drying time, which enabled Hopper to blend the colors seamlessly, creating subtle gradations of light and shadow. This is a far cry from watercolor or fresco, and this is a painting done indoors. The figures that can be seen through the windows are generic and in silhouette, but they clearly belong to a middle class setting. The windows themselves are a study in contrasts, the dark exteriors framing the brightly lit interiors. The visible brushstrokes add to the sense of immediacy, as though we are catching a glimpse of these private moments. The beauty of “Night Windows” lies not only in what it depicts but also in how it was made, blurring the boundaries between observation, the creative process, and the voyeuristic impulse.