‘Edward Hopper in Paris’ at The Phillips Collection

Works from Edward Hopper’s early years in Paris are now on display in Washington

Celebrated American artist Edward Hopper (1882-1967) was only 24 years old when he first visited Paris. In 1906 he stayed there for 10 months, following his studies at the New York School of Art. He was so enchanted by the lively city and the dynamic art scene, he returned twice to the City of Light. “I do not believe there is another city as beautiful as Paris,” he said.

Edward Hopper, Le Pont des Arts, 1907, Oil on canvas, 23 11/16 x 28 13/16 in.
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Josephine N. Hopper Bequest

This engaging exhibit at the Phillips Collection presents some of Hopper’s important early works, demonstrating his developing style. The paintings are restrained and his interpretation of the city is a bit streamlined. Hopper rarely depicts any people and even limits some architectural details, yet he captures the magical light and the golden hue of the stately limestone buildings. Some of this simplicity is derived from the Impressionists he came to admire: Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, and Auguste Renoir.

Edward Hopper, Stairway at 48 Rue de Lille, Paris, 1906, Oil on wood, 12 7/8 x 9 5/16 in. Whitney Museum of Art, New York. Josephine N. Hopper Bequest

“We are honoured to welcome a selection of works from the Whitney Museum of American Art’s important holdings of Edward Hopper,” says Dr. Dorothy Kosinski, Vradenburg Director and CEO of The Phillips Collection. “The Phillips has enjoyed a long history with Edward Hopper since its acquisitions Sunday (1926) and Approaching a City (1946). While paintings such as these are the quintessential Hopper celebrated today, the lesser-known Paris pictures provide a rare glimpse into the artist’s early period of experimentation, which set the stage for his later development.”

Edward Hopper, Notre Dame, No. 2, 1907, Oil on canvas, 23 3/4 x 28 3/4. Whitney Museum of Art, New York. Josephine N. Hopper Bequest

The 11 paintings in this exhibit, on loan from the Whitney Museum of American Art, are now at the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. through January 10, 2021.

The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
www.phillipscollection.org