A closer look at Edward Hopper's "Automat" and "Chop Suey"
Clip: 1/2/2024 | 1m 59sVideo has Closed Captions
Edward Hopper displayed a preference for quieter social commentary with his art.
Edward Hopper displayed a preference for quieter social commentary with his art. In "Automat," he paints a woman alone in an empty automat, conveying a sense of loneliness and isolation. In "Chop Suey," two women are depicted at lunch without male chaperones, reflecting the newfound independence many women were experiencing at the time.
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...
A closer look at Edward Hopper's "Automat" and "Chop Suey"
Clip: 1/2/2024 | 1m 59sVideo has Closed Captions
Edward Hopper displayed a preference for quieter social commentary with his art. In "Automat," he paints a woman alone in an empty automat, conveying a sense of loneliness and isolation. In "Chop Suey," two women are depicted at lunch without male chaperones, reflecting the newfound independence many women were experiencing at the time.
How to Watch American Masters
American Masters is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now
A front row seat to the creative process
How do today’s masters create their art? Each episode an artist reveals how they brought their creative work to life. Hear from artists across disciplines, like actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, singer-songwriter Jewel, author Min Jin Lee, and more on our podcast "American Masters: Creative Spark."Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(somber music) - He had the just uncanny ability to paint pictures that have a lot of details that don't quite add up.
We know it's an automat because that's the title of the picture, but we don't see any of the little doors with the pieces of pie behind them.
We don't see any other people, even though they were incredibly popular restaurants in Hopper's day.
(gentle music) If you look at his pictures, the values of contemporary society are reflected in them.
One of my favorite Hopper's is a painting called "Chop Suey," and it's two women sitting.
It must be at lunchtime 'cause there's a lot of sun outside.
They're in a Chinese restaurant and extraordinarily, they are out on their own without male escort.
They are dressed up and they have a lot of makeup on, which in an earlier generation might have indicated that they were available.
In fact, what Hopper's commenting on is a social change that had been coming for a while, but that had affected women of his generation who were more independent.
So those kinds of quieter social comments are in his work.
(gentle music)
Edward Hopper's career soared as wife Jo Nivison's faltered
Video has Closed Captions
Edward Hopper's career soared while his wife Jo Nivison's faltered. (2m 31s)
Edward Hopper's childhood in Nyack, New York
Video has Closed Captions
Edward Hopper was raised in Nyack, where his creativity was fostered by his parents. (2m 3s)
Edward Hopper's simple lifestyle with wife Jo
Video has Closed Captions
Edward and Jo Hopper lived an extremely frugal life. (1m 55s)
Edward Hopper's work showed a narrow view of New York
Video has Closed Captions
Edward Hopper showed no interest in the growing diversity of America. (2m 39s)
HOPPER: An American love story
Video has Closed Captions
Discover the secrets behind Edward Hopper’s most iconic and enigmatic works. (1m 2s)
HOPPER: An American love story (EAD + ASL + OC Trailer)
Discover the secrets behind Edward Hopper’s most iconic and enigmatic works. (2m 10s)
Rare interview footage of Edward Hopper on his process
Video has Closed Captions
Edward Hopper joins Brian O'Doherty for a conversation about his process and inspirations. (29m 7s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...