Edward Hopper quotes

Edward Hopper was an American realist painter and printmaker, renowned for his evocative depictions of modern American life. His works often capture themes of solitude, urban landscapes, and the quiet moments of everyday existence. He is celebrated for his unique ability to convey mood and atmosphere through light and composition. Here are 72 of his quotes:

If you could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.

Edward Hopper

More of me comes out when I improvise.

Edward Hopper

My aim in painting has always been the most exact transcription possible of my most intimate impression of nature.

Edward Hopper

There will be, I think, an attempt to grasp again the surprise and accidents of nature and a more intimate and sympathetic study of its moods, together with a renewed wonder and humility on the part of such as are still capable of these basic reactions.

Edward Hopper

The trend in some of the contemporary movements in art, but by no means all, seems to deny this ideal and to me appears to lead to a purely decorative conception of painting.

Edward Hopper

All I ever wanted to do is to paint sunlight on the side of a wall.

Edward Hopper

The only real influence I've ever had was myself.

Edward Hopper

To me the most important thing is the sense of going on. You know how beautiful things are when you're traveling.

Edward Hopper

No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.

Edward Hopper

So much of every art is an expression of the subconscious that it seems to me most of all the important qualities are put there unconsciously, and little of importance by the conscious intellect. But these are things for the psychologist to untangle.

Edward Hopper

Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in his personal vision of the world.

Edward Hopper

Ninety percent of them [artists in general] are forgotten ten minutes after they're dead.

Edward Hopper

Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in his personal vision of the world... The inner life of a human being is a vast and varied realm.

Edward Hopper

Everyone goes to the 'Grands-Boulevards' and let himself loose.. .Do not picture these in costume, they are not for the most part.. ..perhaps a clown with a big nose, or two girls with bare necks and short skirts.. ..the parade of the queens of the halls [Paris' markets] is also one of the events.. ..Some are pretty but look awkward in their silk dresses and crowns, particularly as the broad sun displays their defects – perhaps a neck too thin or a painted face which shows ghastly white in the sunlight.

Edward Hopper

Well, I have a very simple method of painting. It's to paint directly on the canvas without any funny business, as it were, and I use almost pure turpentine to start with, adding oil as I go along until the medium becomes pure oil. I use as little oil as I can possibly help, and that's my method. It's very simple.. .Yes, linseed oil. I used to use poppy oil, but I have heard that poppy oil is given to cracking pigment too, so I use it no longer.. .I find linseed oil and white lead the most satisfactory mediums.

Edward Hopper

It's probably a reflection of my own, if I may say, loneliness. I don't know. It could be the whole human condition.

Edward Hopper

Partly through choice, I was never willing to hire out more than three days a week [making illustrations for the magazines to support himself, c. 1912] I kept some time to do my own work. Illustrating was a depressing experience. And I didn't get very good prices because I didn't often do what they wanted.

Edward Hopper

They are in a high key, somewhat like impressionism or a modified impressionism. I think I'm still an impressionist.

Edward Hopper

There is a sort of elation about sunlight on the upper part of a house.

Edward Hopper

I have tried to present my sensations in what is the most congenial and impressive form possible to me.

Edward Hopper

The question of the value of nationality in art is perhaps unsolvable.

Edward Hopper

Well, I have a very simple method of painting.

Edward Hopper