Shop art print and framed art Gas,1940 by Edward Hopper

Edward Hopper and "Gas": a never-before-seen glimpse of 1940s American life

If you're looking for a work representative of the artistic landscape of the 1940s, look no further: "Gas" is an iconic painting from that era by Edward Hopper. This masterpiece showcases the unique aesthetic and recurring themes that characterise all of his work while capturing the essence of a defining era in American history.

History of the work

Painted in January 1940, "Gas" is often seen as one of the most iconic works by painter Edward Hopper. It is an oil on canvas measuring 66.7 cm x 102.2 cm that has been conserved since 1956 at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

The creation of "Gas" coincided with a key period in Hopper's life and career during which he gained significant recognition for his work and growing notoriety. That same year, he was appointed a full member of the National Academy of Design.

Sources of inspiration

Part of the inspiration for "Gas" came from the many road trips Hopper and his wife took across the United States. Together, they travelled the American roads in search of natural and urban landscapes to immortalise on canvas.

Gas stations were an essential part of the landscape at this time and Hopper had long expressed an interest in these places of passage that evoke displacement, solitude and a certain form of melancholy.

A landmark work in the artist's development

"Gas" is a milestone in Edward Hopper's artistic development. This work marks a gradual transition towards more mature and introspective work. It testifies to the artist's ability to capture the essence of an era while expressing universal and deeply human feelings.

Visual description of the work

The scene depicted in this painting focuses on a solitary petrol station set in the middle of a wooded environment. A series of petrol pumps take pride of place at the centre of the composition. They are framed on either side by a tarmac road and a shop from which a dim light escapes.

The outside world - beyond the petrol station - is shrouded in a misty veil of greenery that suggests a peaceful, silent atmosphere. At a distance, we can make out a road that seems to recede endlessly into the distant horizon.

In the foreground of the scene, a man dressed in a white shirt and dark trousers stands at the foot of the petrol pumps, busy filling a can. His gaze is lost in a contemplation that exudes a certain melancholy.

The atmosphere

Edward Hopper was a master at creating particular atmospheres and "Gas" is no exception. The contrast between the very ordinary subject and the ponderous solitude that pervades the canvas creates an emotionally rich picture.

This lonely service station in the middle of nowhere illustrates the striking isolation that Hopper often sought out and depicted. There is a real introspective atmosphere here, characteristic of the painter's work and emblematic of his personal style.

An archetypal work

"Gas" brings together the elements that make up Hopper's own artistic language: the use of light to create a mood, the focus on anonymous, ordinary architecture and the introspection carried by the characters.

As a result, "Gas" is both an archetypal work in Hopper's oeuvre and a striking example of his ability to transcend the everyday to invite the viewer to reflect on universal issues and the constraints of modern life.

The legacy of "Gas"

With "Gas", Edward Hopper revealed a new facet of American life in the 1940s by finding poetry in the banal. The work is representative of a country in transformation, where the car is gradually taking on a dominant role in society, symbolising both mobility and remoteness.

This painting has thus become a key piece of American artistic heritage, marvellously reflecting the aesthetics and spirit of its era. It continues to be a source of inspiration and an object of study for art and culture enthusiasts.

This artwork is a painting from the contemporary period. It belongs to the realism style.

Find the full description of Gas,1940 by Edward Hopper on Wikipedia.