Nighthawks Analyzation

Elements to analyze/observations

1. Lighting effects - very bright inside the store, more dull and dreary on the streets, the building across the street appears uninhabited because of the shadows

2. People in the painting - one couple sitting at the bar appear indifferent, one man sitting alone appears sullen, the waiter appears content and attentive

3. The space in the painting - although there is only 3 people at the bar, the space appears crowded because of the small amount of space between the bar and the wall of the building, there is a lot of empty space between the bar and the other building

4. Color Scheme - bright, fanciful colors inside the bar, the colors of the other building are dull and brooding,

5. Actions in the painting - boring, not a lot of movement, the couple and the waiter appear to be talking, the man sitting alone doesn't appear to be doing anything

Claim - In "Nighthawks," Edward Hopper conveys a contrast between the bright seemingly lively shop with the dark, brooding tone of the empty building across the steet in order to express a sense of animated joviality and grim loneliness.