Chop Suey* by Edward Hopper

This spectacular vertical cropping embodies the very essence of American Realism, confronting the intimacy of an interior with the flashy signage of the metropolis. The master of painting Hopper Edward orchestrates a superb visual tension in this version entitled “Chop Suey” where outdoor advertising invites itself into the private space. The verticality of the composition accentuates the dynamism of the scene and the modernity of the environment.

The most striking element is the right half of the window, which reveals an immense vertical red sign bearing the backlit white letters of the restaurant. Inside, the two women talk around the white table, the red teapot placed between them. The young girl facing us wears her cloche hat and an olive green sweater. Behind her, a yellow coat hangs, while on the left, the man in a suit sits in the shadow. A diagonal of harsh light crosses the room, creating a strong contrast between the brightness of the window and the darkness of the left wall.

The virtuosity of the artist lies in the extraordinary treatment of artificial and natural light coexisting in the scene. His exceptional mastery of oil allows him to render the glow of the sign and the transparency of glass with striking realism, reinforcing the theatricality of the composition.