Analysis of the Arts of Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Thomas H. Benton

Abstract

The 20th century is marked by development of new style of arts. The painters with the likes Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Thomas H. Benton played pivotal roles in taking this form of art to the next level. Their works carry elements of modernism in them however they have different styles of depicting their arts. In this paper, we have taken Office at Night, Woman with Plants, and Sorghum Mill (Buffalo River, Arkansas) for analysis which are painted by Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Thomas H. Benton respectively.

Analysis

Thesis Statement

The works of Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Thomas H. Benton truly represent the modern era of painting with some similarities and some dissimilarities.

Introduction

The painting of the 20th century was inclined towards developing a new form of art which carries modernity. It was a revolutionary period for painting and saw some great painters of all times. The artworks have huge impact of the modernism in them. Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Thomas H. Benton were the prominent painters of the era who have great contribution in the world of painting.

Edward Hopper-Office at Night, 1940

A sexy assistant and her attractive young manager work extra time in an otherwise abandoned office. The secretary’s large make-up, limited outfit, and present highlight her sexual accessibility. She seems positioned to pick up the document that has dropped to a floor and to start some contact with her manager, but he disregards her, resolutely working on the documents he maintains. The night breeze blowing the window provides the only activity in the scene. However the two figures are connected by the spot of light throw by the road light onto the wall, their future connections is unclear. The unclear dilemma of Hopper’s landscape resonated with modern audiences still modifying to the use of women in the office (Lyons, D., 1997).

Grant Wood-Woman with Plants, 1929

In the painting Woman with Plants, Wood painted his mother as a powerful and adoring frontier woman. He placed her in a village scenery and compensated unique interest to the attractive sewing on her outfit, the cameo around her throat, the plants in pots flower and other information that were essential to her. Individuals all over Iowa were extremely pleased of Wood's symbol of his mother. It was one of the first artworks about the area that seemed like it was done by someone who really realized and recognized people there. He

Analysis of the Arts of Edward Hopper, Grant Wood, and Thomas H. Benton 3

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