From the Metropolitan Museum of Art's description...
In "The Lighthouse at Two Lights" Hopper isolated the dramatic silhouette of the 120-foot-high lighthouse tower and adjoining Coast Guard station against the open expanse of blue sky. Set on a rocky promontory in Cape Elizabeth, Maine — though no water is visible in the painting — the architecture is bathed in bright sunlight offset by dark shadows. Since 1914 Hopper had regularly summered in Maine, and this picture is one of three oils and several watercolors that he did of this site during summer 1929. To Hopper, the lighthouse at Two Lights symbolized the solitary individual stoically facing the onslaught of change in an industrial society. The integrity and clarity of his work made Hopper a quiet force in American art for forty years and one of America's most popular artists.
Well, it is not quite the isolated place it was when Hopper painted it, but it is still a beautiful place. Sadly, the light and house are privately owned and not open to the public, so our views are limited.
But I did my best to get a photo or two.
Lovely pictures. I have sort of love/hate relationship with lighthouses. They sort of signify loneliness to me, but also hope.
ReplyDeletelonely..yes, I can see that, but I think for me they are more about safety, and coming home, a light to protect and welcome you.
DeleteIs that Edward Hopper's work? I didn't realize he painted lighthouses.
ReplyDeleteI am no Hopper expert, but just taking a quick look, it seems he did a number along the Maine coast. A foghorn, coast guard station, another lighthouse, sailboats...
DeleteFunny -- about 2 minutes ago, I was looking at a photo of me with this lighthouse in the background. When my friends come up from Penn. at Easter, we always go to the Lobster Shack at Two Lights.
ReplyDeletea fine chowder. a nice lobster role. a perfect location.
Deletealthough not as good a lobster role as the one at Red's.
IMHO
Looks like Hopper used a bit of artistic license.
ReplyDeletespectacular!
ReplyDelete