About the Artist

Edward Hopper, b. 1882

Edward Hopper was born in Nyack, New York, 30 miles north of Manhattan, in 1882. After attending classes at the New York School of Illustration in 1899, Hopper enrolled the following year at the New York School of Art. Hopper traveled to Paris three times between 1906 and 1910 where he began painting out-of-doors. Upon returning to New York, Hopper preferred to draw on the streets then return to his studio to paint. Between 1906 and 1925, Hopper supported himself as a commercial artist and illustrator. He sold his first canvas in the Armory Show in 1913 and had his first solo exhibition at the Whitney Studio Club in 1920.

In 1924, Hopper married his former classmate, the artist Josephine “Jo” Verstille Nivison. The Hoppers lived and worked in their studio and residence at 3 Washington Square North, in Greenwich Village. Hopper had periods of success throughout his life, though he also struggled to sell work earlier in his career. In May of 1967, Hopper died in his studio-residence and Jo, after being hospitalized, passed away ten months later. 

Activity

Edward Hopper drew and painted numerous self-portraits in his early years as an artist, like Self-Portrait, 1903–06. Self-Portrait, 1925-1930, is one of the few he completed later in his career. Have students compare and contrast the two self-portraits. Encourage them to discuss how Hopper’s choice in pose, clothing, background and paint colors affect our interpretations of each painting. Invite students to make their own self-portraits that convey a specific aspect of their personality or mood.

Additional Resources

Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center

The Art Story: artist biography, quotes, and timeline supported by images.

All Arts: interview with Edward Hopper for the Museum of Fine Arts, 1962.