The artwork titled “A Woman in the Sun” is a creation of Edward Hopper, a notable figure within the New Realism art movement. Completed in 1961, this oil on canvas measures 40 x 60 inches and exemplifies the genre of nude painting. It is part of a series commonly referred to as the ‘Window’ paintings. The piece is housed at the Whitney Museum of American Art, located in New York.
The artwork captures a solitary, nude woman standing in a sunlit room. The light casts defining shadows across her figure and the floor, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding space. Her pose is both contemplative and statuesque, as she gazes out of the frame, seemingly lost in thought or perhaps entranced by the warmth of the sunlight. The room is modestly furnished with a bed, side table, and a pair of shoes casually placed on the floor, suggesting a private, domestic setting. Through an open window, a view of a landscaped hillside extends the spatial context beyond the confines of the room.
In its composition, Hopper employs his characteristic interplay of light and shadow, evoking an atmosphere of introspection and stillness. The use of color is restrained yet vibrant, particularly in the delineation of indoor and outdoor spaces. The streaming light not only highlights the figure’s form but also imparts a temporal quality to the scene, suggesting a fleeting moment of calm and solitude. Typical of Hopper’s style, the painting resonates with themes of isolation and the personal experience of space.
