The artwork “Rocks” by Edward Hopper, created between circa 1916 and 1919, is an oil painting on wood. It is a remarkable example of the landscape genre and showcases the artist’s connection with the Impressionist movement. The dimensions of the artwork are relatively modest, measuring 29.8 by 40.8 centimeters. Currently, “Rocks” is housed in the Whitney Museum of American Art, located in New York City, New York, United States.
In the artwork, the observer is presented with a rugged coastal scene distinguished by a robust interplay of color and light. The foreground is dominated by a cluster of ochre and greenish rocks that guide the viewer’s gaze towards a dark, shadowy cleft, possibly a crevice or a small water inlet, that punctures the landmass. Beyond this geological feature, the tranquil blue expanse of the sea merges seamlessly with the sky on the horizon, emphasizing the vastness of the natural world and the isolation of the shore. The composition revels in the contrasts between the solidity of the rocks and the fluidity of the water, with the application of the medium reflecting a bold, almost tactile quality that invites contemplation of the textural elements within the landscape.
