Street Corner 1923

Edward Hopper made this watercolour, “Street Corner”, with who knows what kind of paper and brushes. It’s all about the way he lays down the washes, those translucent layers that build up to a scene that feels so American, so Hopper. Look how the light hits the side of that house, a simple white box with a hint of yellow, the shutters slightly askew. See how that ochre blob is painted in one gesture, just a quick flick of the wrist. It is like Hopper is saying “Yup, that’s what’s here”, and moves on. And the way the colours bleed and blend into each other, it’s like he’s capturing a fleeting moment, a memory fading at the edges. There’s a certain stillness here, but also a sense of movement, like the scene is about to shift, just a little. You might look at something by Charles Burchfield and see a similar American vision going on, but Burchfield’s paintings tend to be a bit wilder, more expressive. Hopper’s got that control, that sense of quiet observation. It’s a conversation between them, I think.