Before landing in Maine, Truro and Wellfleet on Cape Cod were, and still are, among my favorite places. The late afternoon sunlight shining on the Harbor houses of this week's photo reminded me of my times there.
Edward Hopper painted a fair amount on “The Cape” as he did here in Maine, on Monhegan, around Cape Elizabeth and other places. His work often emphasized angular light, deep shadows and the architecture of New England.
Regarding my photo above, I suspect Mr. Hopper would have preferred a view a little more to the left, creating greater contrast and deeper shadows. But I was situated against somebody's porch railing at the edge of Mill Cove and couldn't budge.
I really like Hopper's work and have learned much from studying his paintings.
Back in my teaching days, I traveled to Cape Cod frequently on my motorcycle from New Jersey. After completing Thursday's summer school class, departing at night to miss the traffic along “95” and the “Mid Cape Highway,” I could settle into fifth gear on my “750 Honda” and get there.
A student's family gave me a place to stay. At the time, lacking in “art knowledge,” I did not realize that “The Hopper House” (actually his studio overlooking Cape Cod Bay) where I stayed, was Edward Hopper's studio in Truro. I didn't even know who he was but was grateful for a place to “crash” during my visits.
Many years later, on one of our family camping trips, we traveled to Cape Cod and visited my old haunts. I wanted to show everyone Hopper's studio and introduce my old friends who had so kindly put me up.
Just like me, our girls had no idea who Mr. Hopper was. When we got back home to Maine, I showed them one of Gail Levin's books about the artist.