Edward Hopper Paints His World

Gr 2–5—Hopper was one of the foremost American painters of the 20th century, and this wonderfully illustrated book provides a detailed biographical portrait of him. Minor's art, lush and perfectly varied with pencil sketches interspersed between colorful paintings, is accompanied by Burleigh's compelling text, which traces the artist's childhood in Nyack, NY, to his studies in Manhattan and Paris to his married life in New York City and Cape Cod, MA. Minor has reenvisioned many of Hopper's well-known works, placing Hopper in the picture, depicting the artisit as he surveys the scenes that inspired his paintings. Though Minor's interpretations are brighter, he hints at the dark and foreboding qualities for which Hopper was famous; Hopper's compositions are sad and lonely, leaving viewers to ponder the mysterious narrative. One might assume that Hopper's work was a mirror of his personal life. As the title states, he painted world as he saw it, yet in actuality his world and personal life was rather typical. Burleigh and Minor touch on this in the afterword, but they don't specifically address the contradiction between the darkness of his work and his seemingly normal personal life, which leaves a ripe subject for discussion among teachers and librarians and their creative readers. Additional back matter includes quotes about art from Hopper, miniature reproductions of four of Hopper's most famous works with discussion prompts, important dates, and a note on the illustrations from Minor.—Billy Parrott, New York Public Library