Exploring Nighthawks During a Pandemic
Nighthawks Source: MyModernMet
Modernism was a time period during which previously accepted traditions were tossed aside, and society wanted to experiment with new styles. Art forms centered around “perfect” subjects and depicted god were no longer mainstream. These pieces were replaced with works that focused on the arrangement of lighting and colors and a realistic description of the topic. A very famous painting during the time period was Nighthawks by Edward Hopper.
Created in 1942, Hopper’s Nighthawks captures a few lonely residents of New York City, sitting inside a cheap diner. The subjects are isolated, a lone man sitting on one side of the bar across from a couple, all being served by the man behind the counter (Richman-Abdou). Although the painting is half a century old, the picture is still relevant to today’s circumstances. Even 6 months into the pandemic things are far from normal. Aside from the masks, people need to distance and many choose to avoid going out altogether. In the painting, the subjects are isolated from one another, and the streets are dark and abandoned. The public chooses to stay inside instead of walking around town at night.
Another aspect of the modern piece is its lighting and colors. The simple shapes and darker shades convey the dismal and lonely mood of the painting. Even the subjects seem serious in discussion as the couple chats with the man behind the counter. Relevant to today’s society, these moods are present amidst a time of uncertainty and confusion during the pandemic.
Created in 1942, Hopper’s Nighthawks captures a few lonely residents of New York City, sitting inside a cheap diner. The subjects are isolated, a lone man sitting on one side of the bar across from a couple, all being served by the man behind the counter (Richman-Abdou). Although the painting is half a century old, the picture is still relevant to today’s circumstances. Even 6 months into the pandemic things are far from normal. Aside from the masks, people need to distance and many choose to avoid going out altogether. In the painting, the subjects are isolated from one another, and the streets are dark and abandoned. The public chooses to stay inside instead of walking around town at night.
Another aspect of the modern piece is its lighting and colors. The simple shapes and darker shades convey the dismal and lonely mood of the painting. Even the subjects seem serious in discussion as the couple chats with the man behind the counter. Relevant to today’s society, these moods are present amidst a time of uncertainty and confusion during the pandemic.
Seeing empty places like restaurants or even the streets of Boston at night strike hard for probably all of us. I know I miss the "good ol days" wishing I was back in my old dorm with my friends or working my old job. This was a really good analysis that tied to Covid nicely. Great job Brandon!
ReplyDeleteHi Brandon, I am new to your blog, but I like the vibe. I think you chose a great painting for this topic. You are correct in saying that things are far from normal. I am from the south, and I just moved here for school this year. I think this was a weird tome to enter the city. Everyday life regarding the amount of people, traffic, and outing activities seem normal to me because this is all I know of Boston. The pandemic has certainly made an impact on society, so I will not be surprised if we begin to see paintings that resemble the one you chose. It is funny how art can always relate to the present day even under different circumstances.
ReplyDeleteHey Brandon! I like how you connect the painting from modernism with the situation we are in. This way the reader feel relatable reading this blog. You also explain it really well! The painting surely brings out the feeling of isolation and loneliness. I really enjoy reading this. Awesome work!
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