Early Sunday Morning by Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper’s Early Sunday Morning captures the quiet stillness of a waking city, blending American realism with subtle symbolism and the looming tension of the Great Depression.
Measuring at 35 3/16 in height and 60 ¼ in width it is housed in the Whitney Museum of American Art in NYC
Early Sunday Morning, by Edward Hopper, is a 1930 oil painting that depicts a row of storefronts in contemporary American architecture similar to those found in major cities. The painting measures 35 3/16 inches in height by 60 ¼ inches in width and is housed in the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. The buildings are bathed in long shadows and the soft glow of the upcoming day. The scene is surrounded solely by the stillness of the waking day, omitting any figures or cars, leaving the varying window blinds as the only trace of human activity. The long linear building is divided into two contrasting halves: the second floor, painted in a red-orange sienna, possibly represents apartment residences, while the lower floor, in a complementary blue-green cyan, depicts businesses. Hopper’s painting was originally titled Seventh Avenue Shops suggesting that it is based on a real location in New York City–an approach he would later replicate in his 1943 painting Nighthawks, which holds very strong resemblance to this scene, in comparison.
Edward Hopper was renowned for his distinctive American Realism, often combined with slight abstraction. He demonstrated a keen understanding of design principles, which are integral to Early Sunday Morning. The most striking and obvious principle was his use of contrast, achieved through the juxtaposition of complementary colors. The warm red-orange of the upper floor and the cool blue-green of the lower storefronts not only create visual contrast but also symbolize the division between two distincts social groups who coexist in urban environments: residents and workers. Hopper further showcased his mastery of form through the employment of light and shadow. While a subtle application at first glance, the carefully placed shadows add depth and dimension, preventing the composition from becoming a static, flat depiction of a linear building. Additionally, he used repetition through uniform windows seen on the second floor, where varying blinds introduce a rhythmic pattern that hints at human presence.
Early Sunday Morning is a cityscape painting that some may simply overlook. However, upon closer examination, it offers several subtle interpretations. One compelling perspective suggests that it takes place in the same universe as Hopper’s later work, Nighthawks, given similar architectural forms, color palette used, and urban setting–both inspired by actual locations in the city of New York. Yet, it is not just the physical appearance of the content but the metaphysical, both share images of solitude, and quietness that seems almost relatable to the person, especially the 1930 painting. The work shares a sense of timelessness and universal familiarity that is recognizable to almost any person seeing that painting. Furthermore, the division of space, with business reserved on the ground floor and residential areas above, may offer a subtle commentary on the structure and coexistence of urban society. Finally, when understood within its historical context, Early Sunday Morning could be interpreted as a visual metaphor for the dawn of the Great Depression: a portrayal of barren streets and economic uncertainty permeating the stillness of the daybreak scene.
Vocab
The Great Depression- Period in American life of severe economic instability affecting the nation and everyone simultaneously.
Sources
Artsy, Edward Hopper, Early Sunday Morning
https://www.artsy.net/artwork/edward-hopper-early-sunday-morning
Whitney Museum of American Art, Early Sunday Morning