Edward Hopper’s work is some of the most recognizable art in America and his influence is everywhere—in movies, TV shows and museums.
In Hopper’s work, portraits of America emerge in a variety of urban and rural settings. Hopper himself was an enigmatic, yet wildly popular artist whose career was deeply influenced by his relationship with his wife, Josephine Nivison. This timeline explores Edward Hopper’s life and the major milestones in his career.
EARLY LIFE
On July 22, Edward Hopper is born in Nyack, New York to Garrett Henry Hopper, a dry-goods merchant, and Elizabeth Griffiths Smith Hopper, an outgoing woman who encourages Hopper’s creativity.
Hopper enrolls in the New York School of Art to study illustration, then switches to painting under William Merrit Chase, Robert Henri and Kenneth Hayes Miller.
Hopper goes to work as an illustrator for Phillips & Co. in New York City. In the fall, he takes the first of three trips to Paris to study French, impressionism, architecture, and experimenting with light—experiences key in shaping his personal style.
Hopper moves to New York City.
FIRST SALE
Hopper sells his first painting, "Sailing," at the Armory show, and relocates to 3 Washington Square North, where he would live and work for the rest of his life.
Hopper’s first solo exhibition, at the Whitney Studio Club, generates no sales and little critical attention.
Hopper consigns prints to the Frank Rehn Gallery in New York, the art dealer that represents Hopper for the rest of his life.
Hopper visits Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he meets fellow artist Jo Nivison, who encourages him to paint more than a dozen watercolors. At Jo’s urging, the Brooklyn Museum agrees to show several of Hopper’s watercolors and buys "Mansard Roof" for its permanent collection.
MEETING JO NIVISON
Hopper marries Jo Nivison with Guy Pène du Bois as his best man, and visits Gloucester for the summer.
The Whitney Museum buys "Early Sunday Morning," and the Hoppers make their first visit to Truro on Cape Cod, where they will spend almost every summer, often staying into fall, for the rest of their lives.
The Hoppers’ road trip to California and back. Arnold Newman photographs Hopper.
THE CREATION OF "NIGHTHAWKS"
Hopper paints "Nighthawks" which is purchased by The Art Institute of Chicago and quickly becomes Hopper’s signature image.
Fuel rationing prevents the Hoppers’ summer drive to Truro, so they take the train to Mexico, returning three more times.
Hopper is inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and appears on the cover of Time magazine.
MAJOR RETROSPECTIVE
Hopper has a major retrospective at the Whitney Museum of American Art, including 74 oils, 62 watercolors, numerous etchings and drawings.
In Truro, Hopper completes his last painting, "Two Comedians," showing two Pierrot figures, male and female, taking a final bow.
On May 15, an 84-year-old Edward Hopper dies quietly in his Washington Square studio and is buried in Nyack.
On March 6, Jo dies and bequeaths Hopper’s work and many of her own paintings—over 3,000 works—to the Whitney Museum of American Art.
