Rockwell Museum presents 'Edward Hopper as Illustrator'

Edward Hopper (1882-1967), "Study for illustration for Eva Moore Adams "Shady" Scribner's Magazine 76 (December 1924), p. 627, (1924). Lithographic crayon and opaque watercolor on paper, Sheet: 29 7/8 x 21 5/8in. (75.9 x 54.9cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Josephine N. Hopper, licensed by Whitney Museum of American Art.

PRIME – August 2014 STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. – More than 100 years ago, Norman Rockwell was 20 years old and fresh out of art school. The 1913 New York Armory Show had introduced Europe's avant-garde artists to America in the biggest art show ever, standing the art world on its head as 90,000 visitors encountered modern art for the first time. Edward Hopper's 1911 painting, "Sailing" made it into that show, a beacon for the artist who had been working as an illustrator for 12 years but struggled to break free of the commercial constraints of a profession he did not enjoy. In contrast, young Rockwell yearned for success in the illustration field, and by 1916 had landed his first cover commission for "The Saturday Evening Post." In December 2013, artwork by Norman Rockwell and Edward Hopper set the all-time sales records for American paintings at auction, confirming the enduring popularity of these two artists from the 20th century. This summer, Norman Rockwell Museum will present the early work of these two remarkable artists side by side, offering a rare glimpse into their formative years before they embarked on divergent paths as painters. "The Unknown Hopper: Edward Hopper as Illustrator" will be on view at the Museum through Oct. 26. "Like Norman Rockwell, Edward Hopper had an obvious gift for narrative painting," notes Norman Rockwell Museum Director/CEO Laurie Norton Moffatt. "Both artists were extraordinarily adept at storytelling and depicting light. As a Museum dedicated to the study of American illustration art, we are happy to showcase this little-known aspect of Hopper's career." Exhibition curator Stephanie Plunkett added that "Many noted American modernists have successfully traversed the worlds of fine art and illustration, embracing innovation while satisfying, in unique and personal ways, the needs and wants of a broad popular audience. 'The Unknown Hopper' will offer a unique look at attitudes toward art and the crosscurrents of contemporary commercial society during the early to mid-twentieth century." The exhibit will present a comprehensive study of Hopper's nearly 20-year illustration career, featuring more than 50 original drawings and paintings on loan from numerous collections and museums. The Norman Rockwell Museum is located at 9 Route 183 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is open daily, including holidays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October.