Edward Hopper painted “Approaching a City” in 1946, making it one of his later works.
But it’s no less effective in depicting the isolation and stasis of the modern city—which visitors reach by traveling on a train, something usually associated with excitement and adventure.
Not here. A potential threat lies ahead for travelers to this city (which is presumably New York, based on the tenements flanking the railroad tunnel).
When asked about the painting in 1959, he answered tersely. “Well, I’ve always been interested in approaching a big city in a train, and I can’t exactly describe the sensations, but they’re entirely human and perhaps have nothing to do with aesthetics,” Hopper replied.
“There is a certain fear and anxiety and a great visual interest in the things that one sees coming into a great city. I think that’s about all I can say about it.”
Tags: Best Edward Hopper paintings, Edward Hopper Approaching a City, Edward Hopper New York paintings, New York in the 1940s, New York tenements
Ephemeral New York 
July 30, 2018 at 7:05 am |
[…] Source: FS – NYC Real Estate The “fear and anxiety” of approaching the city […]
July 30, 2018 at 9:03 am |
[…] Source: FS – NYC Real Estate The “fear and anxiety” of approaching the city […]
July 30, 2018 at 12:46 pm |
I went into NYC by train a couple of months ago. Up from NJ & into Penn Station. The tunnels into the city struck me as odd.
I’m not quite sure what I was expecting… what I know of NYC comes from TV, movies, friends stories & this blog.
Friendly people, tall buildings, the Staten Island ferry ride, on the subway, a stop at the hole where the Twin Towers used to be, hot dogs & pizza then back on the train for our ride back to the RV down the coast a bit in NJ.
July 30, 2018 at 1:56 pm |
Poor Mr. Hopper. Anxious, alienated, isolated. Washed out yellows and blank walls was his world. The thought of being with his fellow creatures produced dread rather than excitement.
July 30, 2018 at 2:12 pm |
He didn’t seem to enjoy being asked to explain his work either.
July 30, 2018 at 2:15 pm |
I’m going to Photoshop glitter on some of his paintings and see if that helps.
July 30, 2018 at 2:34 pm |
There is a certain apprehension as you get closer to the city. More like excitement, like when I reached the bridges on the Subway. I remember always staring at the tenement buildings and wondering about the people/families in them. Even looking at the Ghost signs on the sides of the buildings and finding them fascinating.
July 30, 2018 at 3:07 pm |
If you look at every historic style of building, the white as old, the red as mid-recent, the brown as newer and soaring up to the sky, you have no choice but to flee underground and away from the madness that is now. Goodbye to that!
July 30, 2018 at 3:25 pm |
Reactions to art can vary; “correct” responses? They vary too.
July 30, 2018 at 7:16 pm |
Looking at this painting plunges me into the deepest of depressions. But then, most of Hopper’s attempt at art do so. Maybe that was his intent.
July 31, 2018 at 12:43 am |
This HAS to be the entrance to the tunnel at 96th Street and Park Avenue. The buildings haven’t changed.
July 31, 2018 at 2:15 am |
There is no open cut like this anywhere else. And it’s about a train not subway so the Metro North south of 125.
When you arrive you climb up into hyper busy Grand Central. One of the most life affirming places I know.
August 7, 2018 at 3:15 pm |
Yes, this appears to be the view from today’s Metro North train traveling south.
July 31, 2018 at 1:19 am |
I’ve always gotten excited and happy on approaching a city.
July 31, 2018 at 1:26 pm |
My one time entering NYC by train was scary. Half way through the tunnel the train stopped for several minutes. They announced the track was blocked so we had to back up. Before we got back out the issue was fixed, so we started going forward again. Spending a lot of time under the Hudson River can raise your “fear and anxiety.” I was glad to see the great City as we came out of the tunnel.
August 1, 2018 at 12:14 pm |
Here’s a great site that illustrates Hopper’s influence on Hitchcock films.
Worth a visit
http://www.alfredhitchcockgeek.com/2009/11/alfred-hitchcock-edward-hopper-and.html
April 8, 2019 at 2:49 am |
[…] Edward Hopper spent four decades chronicling the isolation of modern urban life: people unconnected to each other in a cafe, a lone person on an elevated train, and building facades almost empty of humanity. […]
April 8, 2019 at 3:35 am |
[…] Edward Hopper spent four decades chronicling the isolation of modern urban life: people unconnected to each other in a cafe, a lone person on an elevated train, and building facades almost empty of humanity. […]