Artists often create illustrations depicting a concept or idea that they have a strong perception or opinion about. This idea gives illustrations life and purpose. Symbols within images convey the point the artist is attempting to depict. Edward Hooper depicts the urban culture of the United States of America during the 1940s in his painting “Nighthawks”. The painting illustrates the contrast between the light and dark inside and outside of a diner based in New York City. Edward Hooper’s illustrations often convey a difference between inside and out with the use of glass windows. Hooper uses this same concept to depict American culture. 

Initially, the viewer is likely to notice the contrast between the inside and outside of the diner. The outside is dark and empty. There are no people or cars on the streets, nor are there any objects. I argue Edward Hooper is conveying the culture of urban America during the late 1930s and 1940s. Large cities are often associated with loneliness and detachment from one another. There are thousands of people all in a tight space yet nearly everybody is a stranger to one another. Hopper illustrates this loneliness in the “Knighthawks” with the empty darkness outside. On the contrary, the inside of the diner is full of light. The light pours out onto the streets outside. The light coming from the diner is a symbol of hope and escape from the darkness. The diner serves as a refuge for people in the city. It is an escape from the dark lonely world that lies outside the large glass windows. Everything outside of the diner is dark with dim colors. The stresses of the persons—in the bar—everyday lives linger over them through the glass windows represented by darkness. They are temporarily escaping these issues by being at the diner, however, they can see the stresses and loneliness outside. The diner is a place where complete strangers can come together to escape their problems. However, the people continue to endure their hardships in their outside lives as the diner is only temporary. The next day a set of completely different people may appear in the diner.  Hopper represents this detachment from person to person very well with the people in the diner. 

It is clear that there are four people in the painting. Three of them are sitting or standing at the bar while one is working behind the bar. One man sits by himself on one side of the bar, and his face cannot be seen. He is turned away from the viewer. I argue Hopper did this to add a sense of mysteriousness to the man. Mysteriousness—and the fact that the man sits alone—contributes to the theme of loneliness in the piece of work. The man is sitting upright. It appears he is not looking at any of the other characters. Perhaps he is staring into nothing and is only thinking to himself. He is also dressed in a suit. The suit contributes to the associated aspects of a city. Cities are associated with hard working people who work long difficult hours. The suit implies that the man likely worked throughout the daytime. It can also be observed that the man has a drink in front of him. I argue that the Hopper is depicting the man drinking alcohol after a long day at work. This adds as evidence that the diner serves as an escape from the darkness outside. Alcohol can help people temporarily forget about their issues. The late 1930s and early 1940s marked the period of America escaping the Great Depression. The painting evokes the emotions of this time, in particular with the man sitting alone.  

There are two other characters—a man and a woman—in the painting whom are acting very similar to the man sitting alone. The woman has a cigarette in her hand. Both of them are slouched over the bar countertop. It is unknown if the two have a relation to one another. The woman is wearing bright colored clothing while the man is wearing a dark blue suit. I argue that Hopper is using the two to represent how men and women interacted during the paintings creation. Women did not often work during this time period, however, men almost always did. Both men are wearing suits, implying they were working at some point in the day, possibly as businessmen. The only other man in the image is the bartender—who is also working. Women added a strong sense of purpose to men’s lives. Hopper drew the woman in the image based off of his wife. Therefore, I argue he is conveying the idea that women add purpose to a man’s life. He depicts this through his representation of the woman in the painting—dressed in bright colors. The bright colors,  which are the brightest in the image, represent how women brighten men’s days up.

All of the characters in the image have vague faces. None of them are communicating to one another. It can also be seen that they all appear to be looking at nothing, perhaps suggesting they are deeply thinking of something. They are lifeless with plain faces. Their detachment from one another, although they are in the same room, suggests space means nothing in a city. Urban culture often entails this kind of attitude. Most people in big cities are strangers to each other. One can be surrounded by thousands of people and still be lonely. Hopper depicted this attitude with the faces of the people in the image. Chances are, the people do not know one another. This contributes to the theme of detachment and loneliness. Each person has their own struggles, however, they are all similar in that they are enduring these struggles—as seen by the three men who are all workers. Each person has their own problems and keeps it to themselves.

The only source of light in the whole image is coming from inside the diner. This light disappears into the darkness through the windows. In the background, completely lightless, appears to be apartments and stores. The rooms are all dark and empty, as far as one can see. There is no life outside of the diner. Once again, this contributes to the lifelessness and loneliness outside of the diner and in the city. The signage on the diner reads “PHILLIES” and to the left of that reads “Only 5 cents”. This suggests the diner is cheap. The Cheapness conveys the struggle and meaning of the people being inside. People were trying to save money during the time period the painting was created. The cheapness also suggests the attitude of the people during this time. People were desperate to save money and earn as much as possible. 

“Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper symbolizes the urban culture during the late 1930s and 1940s. Hopper uses the light inside the diner to represent an escape from the outside darkness. The outside conveys the loneliness and struggles of people living in a big city. All of the people in the image have blank faces. These plain faces show the detachment they are from one another. Hopper created the image during the early 1940s, finishing it in 1942. This time period included preparation for war and the ending in the Great Depression. With these events, people’s lives included struggles, loneliness, and sufferings in particular in big cities. Hopper uses the diner to represent this temporary escape from the outside darkness of struggles and loneliness separated by a glass window. The people in the diner can see the lonely darkness outside.  However, they must accept it and move on with their daily lives. 
