Journal of Qujing Normal University ›› 2026, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (3): 61-66.

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Interpretation of the Inner Emotions in Edward Hopper's Paintings

MA Pengju1, MA Xiyuan2   

  1. 1. School of Fine Arts, Qujing Normal University, Qujing Yunnan 655011;
    2. School of Fine Arts, Yunnan Arts University, Kunming Yunnan 650000, China
  • Received:2025-12-22 Online:2026-05-26 Published:2026-06-23

Abstract: Edward Hopper, a pivotal figure in 20th-century American realist painting, reveals the alienation between the individual and the urban landscape in his works in American society at the time, as well as the dislocation in the relationship between humanity and nature during rapid industrialization. While objectively depicting real scenes,Hopper keenly captured the pervasive unease and loneliness experienced by people in the process of urbanization. The dimensions of subject selection, light and shadow treatment, and color use in Hopper's works are analyzed to explore the feelings of melancholy, solitude, and alienation embedded in his paintings, aiming to uncover the internal logic of the artist's emotional expression, further understand the deep connection between emotion and visual language, and provide valuable insights and references for contemporary artistic creation.

Key words: Edward Hopper, emotional elements, sense of loneliness, color, light and shadow

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