The artwork “Apartment Houses” by Edward Hopper was created in 1923 and embodies the New Realism movement. This oil on canvas genre painting is a notable piece from Hopper’s ‘Window’ paintings series and is housed at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
In the artwork, we observe a quiet urban scene that is characteristic of Hopper’s style. The composition focuses on the interior and exterior of an apartment building, offering a voyeuristic snapshot of everyday life. A woman in a blue dress with an apron is the central figure, engaged in what appears to be a domestic task. She is depicted standing by an open window, leaning slightly forward as if she has just placed something on the windowsill or is looking down to the street below.
The painting is done with predominantly cool hues, and the play of light and shadow suggests a particular time of day, possibly morning or late afternoon. Hopper’s attention to geometric forms and the isolation of urban spaces is evident in how the building’s architecture frames the composition. The view is partly obscured by white-painted masonry, which imparts a sense of depth and dimension to the scene. Vivid contrasts between light and dark areas contribute to a mood of solitude and introspective quietude which is often associated with Hopper’s oeuvre. The artwork encapsulates the essence of urban anonymity and the fleeting, unguarded moments that occur within the architectural confines of city life.
