An American in Europe

The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid presents the exhibition Hopper It will bring together the largest and most ambitious selection of works by the US artist ever to be shown in Europe. Hopper (Nyack, 1882 – New York, 1967) was one of the key figures of 20th-century realism. His paintings offer a faithful portrait of America at the time, focusing on its most modern aspects but without any element of idealization. While Hopper painted some landscapes and outdoor scenes, most of his works are located in public places such as bars, hotels, stations, streets and on trains. These are almost empty settings with pronounced contrasts of light and shade that emphasize the solitude and drama of modern existence. His works are among the most complex phenomena in 20th-century art and he is one of the best known and most highly appreciated American painters. The exhibition will include around 70 works -paintings, drawings, prints and watercolours and will offer an analysis of his work from the years of his training at the New York School of Art to his mature work. It will be arranged thematically in order to emphasize the most frequently recurring themes and motifs, while also maintaining a chronological flow.