The artwork titled “South Carolina Morning” was created by Edward Hopper in the year 1955. This oil on canvas piece is associated with the New Realism art movement and falls into the category of genre painting. The piece is housed at the Whitney Museum of American Art, located in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork features a solitary female figure standing in the shadow of a doorway. Dressed in a vibrant red dress with a matching red hat, she leans casually against the door frame, inhabiting a space that feels both intimate and expansive. Hopper’s composition cleverly contrasts the figure’s shaded repose against the brightly-lit, open landscape extending into the distance, where a vast field meets a clear blue sky. The absence of other characters and the expanse of the open field evoke a sense of solitude and quiet contemplation. Hopper’s use of light and shadow, as well as his characteristic rendering of architectural elements, enhance the stillness and the emotional impact of the scene. The exact position of the viewer is as if standing on the porch, looking out towards the horizon, inviting contemplation on the narrative and mood of the artwork.
