"Nighthawks, a 1942 oil on canvas painting, was inspired by Hemingway's short story 'The Killers,' which Hopper read in Scribner's magazine. Some consider Edward Hopper to be the most critical realist painter of the 20th century in America. Even so, his vision was selective and reflected his temperament
The painting, Nighthawks, tells its own story of loneliness.
The diner is a stand-alone building with long front windows with rounded corners on the glass, giving the glass a thicker and more confining look. It is late at night, and the streets and other buildings appear empty, their darkened windows seeming more than just closed.
Silence is part of the painting's message and is reflected both inside and outside the diner. The diner has no visible doors or thick glass, which suggests that those inside are trapped. Unsettling are the yellow, faded, and peeling walls. The use of green outside on the reflected walk and around the window suggests unnatural light. The pale green fades to dark green near the buildings, confirming that the building is isolated and the people are alone. The people inside the diner are not talking, and they are not looking at each other.
Most of Hopper’s paintings are about how loneliness feels. Loneliness connects to depression and anxiety, both of which Hopper suffered from. Being alone is not loneliness, but having no connection with others is.
