Edward Hopper, Self-Portrait, 1925-30, Oil on canvas, 64.5 × 51.8 cm, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Josephine N. Hopper Bequest 70.1165. ©2023 Heirs of Josephine Hopper/Licensed by SACK, SeoulCurrently, the Seoul Museum of Art Seosomun Main Branch is hosting the first solo exhibition of iconic American painter Edward Hopper in Korea since April 20, Edward Hopper: From City to Coast is on view.
The exhibition is part of the ‘Masterpieces from Overseas Collections’ program, in which the Seoul Museum of Art collaborates with leading overseas art institutions to introduce world-class masterpieces, and has been in talks with the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, which holds the largest collection of Hopper’s works, since 2019.
Divided into several sections, the exhibition explores Hopper’s life and art, presenting more than 270 works, including more than 160 paintings, prints, and drawings from his 65-year career and more than 110 materials from the Sanborn Hopper Archive.
Hopper drew inspiration for his work from all over the United States and abroad, including Paris, New York City, New England, and Cape Cod, where he often expressed his feelings and thoughts about his experiences. As a result of his travels, he has developed a unique style of painting, depicting natural, urban, and everyday landscapes from his own perspective and composition.
Through light and shadow, his work depicts city lights and empty streets, glamorous theaters and quiet restaurants, standing and seated figures with an observant eye.
The exhibition’s title, From City to Coast, refers to Hopper’s journey to his favored spaces of ‘Paris’, ‘New York’, ‘New England’, and ‘Cape Cod’, where he matured his unique art. Other sections include ‘Journey’, ‘Illustration’, ‘The Hoppers’, and ‘Hopper’s View and Documentary’, which provide an intimate look at the artist’s life and work.
In this exhibition, you will be able to experience many of his works at once. The calm and serene atmosphere when you encounter them will give you a sense of how much the artist strived to grow as an artist and how passionate he was about his art.
The exhibition runs until August 20 and is by appointment only, so you’ll need to reserve your spot in advance. Tickets are available at the door, but space is limited, so it’s best to check availability.
