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| Painting Name | Nighthawks |
| Painter Name | Edward Hopper |
| Completion Date | 1942 |
| Place of Creation | New York, USA |
| Size | 84.1 x 152.4 cm (33 1/8 x 60 in.) |
| Technique | Oil |
| Material | Canvas |
| Current Location | The Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago United States) |
Nighthawks is an American painting by Edward Hopper made in 1942. It was sold for $3000 at the time to the Art Institute of Chicago and is there since.
It is popular piece of art similar to other famous artworks. It has been an iconic painting and have been parodied many times. The scene shows the pure Americana aspects.
Nighthawks Analysis
Smooth, toned-down colors are the style of the American artist. Though, his color pallet mostly includes the bright colors to give a certain attentions.
The main element is the restaurant which is called as “diner” in America. Diners are small eating places with many or big windows in America. They are generally found near a street or roads just like the painting depicts.
It is a casual scene. The man in white, is running the diner at the late hours. A couple has arrived for some snack while a lonely man is having his drink.
Describing every element of the painting comprehensively, here is the painter’s note for the art-piece-
“Night + brilliant interior of cheap restaurant. Bright items: cherry wood counter + tops of surrounding stools; light on metal tanks at rear right; brilliant streak of jade green tiles ¾ across canvas—at base of glass of window curving at corner. Light walls, dull yellow ocre [sic] door into kitchen right.[citation needed]
Very good looking blond boy in white (coat, cap) inside counter. Girl in red blouse, brown hair eating sandwich. Man night hawk (beak) in dark suit, steel grey hat, black band, blue shirt (clean) holding cigarette. Other figure dark sinister back—at left. Light side walk outside pale greenish. Darkish red brick houses opposite. Sign across top of restaurant, dark—Phillies 5c cigar. Picture of cigar. Outside of shop dark, green. Note: bit of bright ceiling inside shop against dark of outside street—at edge of stretch of top of window.”
Hopper was said to be a moviegoer and his affection for movie could be seen in his paintings. Most of his paintings resembles to film-stills. It is also speculated by some that the main inspiration for the painting was Vincent van Gogh’s The Night Cafe.
After featuring in many books, films, parodies and even on merchandises, the work has become an easily recognizable art-piece in America. Currently, this oil on canvas painting is safe under authority of its first buyer.
