New York Movie (1939) by Edward Hopper

New York Movie - Edward Hopper - 1939

Artwork Information

TitleNew York Movie
ArtistEdward Hopper
Date1939
MediumOil on Canvas
Dimensions81.9 x 101.9 cm
Art MovementSocial Realism
Current LocationMuseum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City, NY, US
Location Created United States
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About New York Movie

Edward Hopper’s New York Movie is a painting that captures the essence of cinema as a form of escape. The artwork depicts a nearly empty movie theater with scattered moviegoers and an usherette lost in thought. Hopper’s precision in designing the auditorium decor, including the carpet’s pattern, showcases his attention to detail.

Hopper was known for exploring themes like isolation, empty streets, strong contrasts between light and shadow, and the play of sunlight on architecture through his paintings. Although his artworks contain no social meaning, he believed that loneliness was overdone. His aesthetic key revolved around horizontality within select scenarios and light for optimal effect.

The New York Movie painting was created at a time when Hollywood blockbuster movies like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz were gaining popularity. Observation shows that Hopper used such themes as visual elements in his paintings to deliver escapism – this helps people get out of their realities briefly while they immerse themselves into another world entirely.

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