Edward Hopper
American, 1882­1967
Nighthawks
1942
Oil on canvas
84.1 x 152.4 cm
Friends of American Art Collection, 1942.51

In Nighthawks, the glow of a city diner provides an oasis of light on
a dark corner. The artist Edward Hopper said about this
painting, “ Nighthawks seems to be the way I think of a night
street. I didn’t see it as particularly lonely. Unconsciously,
probably, I was painting the loneliness of a large city.”

Do you think these people are lonely? Are they talking to each other? Do you think cities are lonely places? What time of night do you think it is? Do you think the people felt drawn to the light inside the diner?