Edward Hopper in Paris

Friday January 4, 2013 Hopper-esque thumbnails

I wasn't sure I wanted to see the Edward Hopper exhibit at the Grand Palais with waits up to 4 hours.But I bought a ticket anyway to see what the whoopla was about.

Paintings done during his three stays in Paris in 1906, 1909 and 1910 were full of Paris greys and grey bleus.

They're rarely on view and I ate them up

Then went out the following day searching for similar settings like the Pavilion de Flore.

Notre Dame was often a subject for Hopper before he turned his eye on Maine lighthouses and farm sheds. Hopper's work was deeply influenced by French Albert Marquet, Felix Vallotton, Degas. It's an exceptional treat to see these artists in the same room with Hopper.

Another huge influence was 19th century photographer Eugene Atget of Paris monuments.

Moody and abstract in design

They left a lasting impression on Hopper.

Not included in the Grand Palais exhibit (but I wish they were) these ledger book thumbnail croquis drawings Hopper made after paintings were completed as a record of what sold at what price and what size. His wife Josephine filled in the written info to keep track of every single painting - she was the administrator behind the scenes. A French facsimile is out of the ledger and available on Amazon.fr, Edward Hopper, De l'oeuvre au croquis.

After the exhibit I wandered over to the Christmas marche on the Champs-Elysees. Doesn't this caneles-maker look a good model for Hopper? The Dog of the day was this saucisson smothered in grilled onions on a baguette with moutarde (6 euros). An appropriate snack after the Hopper expo in my opinion.