“Jo Painting,” created by the esteemed artist Edward Hopper in 1936, is an oil on canvas portrait that exemplifies the New Realism art movement. The artwork, with dimensions of 40.6 x 45.7 cm, is part of the collection at the Whitney Museum of American Art located in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork presents a profile view of a woman believed to be Jo Hopper, the artist’s wife, who was often the subject of his paintings. The portrait foregrounds Jo’s figure against an indistinct background, allowing the viewer to focus on the subtleties of her form and expression. Hopper’s proficient use of light and shadow creates a sense of volume in Jo’s face and hair, while the choice of warm earth tones adds to the overall depth and realism of the piece.
Jo’s pose, captured from the side, suggests a moment of contemplation or rest, imbuing the portrait with a reflective quality. Hopper’s nuanced approach to portraying his subject’s character and the intimacy of the moment reflects his broader interests in the themes of solitude and the inner lives of individuals, elements that are recurrent in his body of work.
Embodying the aesthetic principles of New Realism, the artwork conveys a true-to-life representation, steering clear from the abstraction that characterized other art movements of the same period. Hopper’s attention to the accurate depiction of light, color, and form serves to anchor “Jo Painting” firmly in the tangible, observable world, inviting the observer to ponder the story and inner thoughts of the woman portrayed.
