The artwork, titled “Elizabeth Griffiths Smith Hopper, The Artist’s Mother,” is a creation of Edward Hopper dated between 1915 and 1916. This oil on canvas portrait embodies the style of New Realism and measures 81.28 by 96.52 centimeters. Currently housed in a private collection, the artwork portrays the artist’s mother with a clear focus on realistic representation and emotional subtlety.
The artwork presents a solemn and introspective portrait of the artist’s mother. The subject is seated and dresses in a deep purple garment with white lace detailing around the collar, exuding an air of quiet dignity and reserve. Her pose is formal yet relaxed, with one hand resting gently on her lap and the other gripping the arm of her chair. Hopper’s use of light and shadow imparts a sculptural quality to her figure, highlighting her facial features and lending a three-dimensional presence within the pictorial space.
Her expression conveys a sense of contemplation or resignation, a trait often seen in Hopper’s subjects, who seem caught in personal moments of reflection. The background is rendered in muted, indistinct brushstrokes that serve to draw the viewer’s focus to the figure herself. The artistic execution showcases Hopper’s ability to evoke emotional depth through compositional simplicity and careful handling of color and light, hallmarks of his approach to portraiture within the New Realism movement.
