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Formal Analysis of Edward Hopper’s Automat

Edward Hopper (1882-1967) was an American realist painter famous for his oil paintings. His work “Automat” is an oil on canvas painting with dimensions 28in X 36in that he completed in 1927 (Hopper n.p). The painting illustrates a lone woman drinking a cup of coffee in an automat or automated diner. The woman is well-dressed and has makeup on her face, which would imply that she is on her way to or from work or headed to or from a social function. She has a green coat with fur on its collar and cuffs and a glove on one hand (Hopper n.p). There is an empty chair at her table, which would probably be someone else’s. The viewer can see a dark light through the large window behind the woman. Hopper used oil paintings to create a reflective light, hence enhancing the idea of loneliness.

Use of the Art Elements

Hopper used various elements in this painting, including color, lines, space, texture, shape, form, and value (The John Paul Getty Museum). Multiple colors are depicted in this painting and include hues such as red, green, black, and white. These colors include the woman’s light complexion and light-colored hat, red and green dress and coat, the white tabletop, the bright lights on the ceiling, and black on the wall, table, chair, and glass window behind the woman (Hopper n.p). The painting also depicts value, with light colors of the lights on the ceiling indicating the source of light, while the dark colors outside the window show absence of light. These colors are also complementary, such as the colors opposite each other in a color wheel, with red complementing green and black complementing white. In addition, the colors inside the automat are bright, while those outside the automat beyond the window are black (Hopper n.p).

            The painting also incorporates various geometrical shapes, such as a rectangular window and circular tabletop. It also features three-dimension forms, including the heater and the wall to the left of the painting. The lone woman, her cup and saucer, and the vase with fruits are among the few organic or asymmetrical shapes and objects in this painting. The regular shapes imply that this woman lives an ordinary life (Hopper n.p).

            Hopper used lines to depict the edges of objects. Sharp, straight lines were used for the window and wall behind the woman, and rounded corners for the table, saucer, and hat. These lines were used as boundaries between the various colors and shapes. Horizontal lines were used for the window to create a sense of space and also to imply movement outside the frame of this painting, especially to the right (Hopper, n.p). Vertical lines on the window were used to illustrate height, while diagonal lines were used for the lights in the ceiling to convey movement into the horizon. Both horizontal and vertical lines were used in combination for the radiator heater to depict stability.

            The painting also incorporates space, with the lone woman, table, chair, and few objects occupying positive space, while the lighted space around her is the negative space. Since the painting highlights more negative space than positive, one can quickly determine that the woman is weak, vulnerable, and isolated from the rest of the world. One can also observe three-dimensional space represented through perspective drawing techniques on the window sill and wall to the woman’s left (Hopper n.p).

            Implied texture or surface quality is also used in the painting (Hopper n.p). For instance, light colors have been used on the tabletop to imply a smooth texture, while the woman’s winter coat seems rough, especially the fur at the collar and cuffs due to the lines on the arms.    

Principles of Design

            Edward Hopper also incorporated various design principles in this painting, including balance, proportion, contrast, movement, scale, size, repetition, rhythm, unity, and variety (Hopper, n.p). The image seems asymmetrically balanced, with most objects including the woman, the table and the chair on the right, while the left appears almost bare except for the heater. The objects in the painting are seemingly realistic in proportion, with the heater, table, chair, cup, and saucer being painted to scale. However, the window is given more emphasis by painting it larger than the other objects in this painting.

            One can also sense movement in this painting. Long, horizontal and vertical lines were used on both sides of the painting, giving the impression that more details were beyond the canvas’s edges. The lights on the ceiling are also arranged diagonally, with the ones further away being smaller, indicating depth and a sense of direction.

            Contrast is incorporated into the painting through the use of color. For instance, the tabletop and the woman’s legs are white while the table’s legs are black, the window is black, while the lights reflected on it are white. Contrast enables the viewer to determine the different objects in this painting. The painting illustrates an event that takes place late at night since the automat is empty except for the lone woman. It is also dark outside the window, and the street is empty.

            Hopper also used light and perspective in this painting (Hopper, n. p). The twin rows of fluorescent lamps are in the diner, but they are reflected on the automat’s window, thus making the viewer think they are outside the restaurant. These lights cast a shadow on the objects in the diner, including the heater and chair. The perspective in this painting is linear, which makes one view this image as a three-dimensional painting. The fluorescent lights overhead appear smaller further away into the painting. Horizontal lines were also used on the window sill to depict depth. These factors give the viewer the impression that the painting is only a small part of a larger space beyond its boundaries.

Interpretation

            Hopper’s “Automat” painting creates an atmosphere of mystery around it. The woman looks down and seems thoughtful, and the empty street outside the window is dark. Since she has only one glove on, one wonders whether she has just gotten into the restaurant and taken it off so that she could hold the cup or whether she was about to put it on since she was about to leave the automat (McNatt n.p). The empty chair is also mysterious and provokes the viewer to ask whether the woman is alone in the automat, expecting someone, or has failed to show up. The radiator is also isolated, thus increasing the feeling of sadness and melancholy in this painting. In addition, the painting has no visible door, which makes one wonder how the woman got into the automat in the first place. 

Conclusion

            Although the painting depicts loneliness, it is a beautiful work of art. The isolation of the woman and the objects in this painting illustrate isolation in real life. The use of colors, hue, contrast, asymmetric balance and proportion direct the viewer to the right side of the painting. The painting is worthy despite its simplicity in design.

Source: (Hopper, n.p).