Analysis Of Edward Hopper's New York Restaurant

In “Ways of Seeing”, John Berger, an English art critic, argues that images are important for the present-day by saying, “No other kind of relic or text from the past can offer such direct testimony about the world which surrounded other people at other times. In this respect images are more precise and richer literature” (10). John Berger allowed others to see the true meaning behind certain art pieces in “Ways of Seeing”. Images and art show what people experienced in the past allowing others to see for themselves rather than be told how an event occurred. There are two images that represent the above claim, Arnold Eagle and David Robbins’ photo of a little boy in New York City, and Dorothea Lange’s image of a migratory family from Texas; both were taken during the Great Depression.

Although both of these works of art represent a cafe setting, the color schemes and use of brushwork is the number one clue that separates them from each other. In Manet’s painting, he uses much brighter colors to show that the time of day is likely in the mid-afternoon. Hopper on the other hand uses a much darker palette to make the observer understand his is set during the night, hence the title of the work. “The Nighthawks”, has a much more realistic approach because of the clarity of the figures and the crispness of his line work. The characters in his work are easily distinguishable and are proportional. In Edouard’s painting, he uses very obscure brush strokes to create the figures shown. The foremost characters are visible but when you look into the background, they become almost blurry. He does this to draw your attention to the front most people.

The 1920’s, also known as the “Jazz Age” or the “Roaring Twenties”, was a time of decadence. The “Roaring Twenties” was common with constant variation in diplomatic, ethnic, and religious standards. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses The Great Gatsby as an account for the unstable time of egotistic pursuits of wealth and satisfaction.

Good Evening my fellow neighbors. Most of you know me and for the ones who do not, I am Mabel Dodge. I am the daughter from a family in Buffalo and had what was considered the best education for girls in the nineteenth- century. Instead of going to college, I got married, became a mother and soon, a widow. Later, I traveled abroad and soon married a Boston architect, Edwin Dodge who I later realized the passion I had was no more- so I divorced him. I became bored and began to crave art, the beauty and inspiration! A “salon” in Florence, Italy that I created for the purpose of attracting the most up- and- coming artists in Europe, had me become well known and even a muse for one of Gertrude Stein’s image poems. I reluctantly joined Edwin my husband at the time, who was eager to come back to the United States. I settled in an apartment on the lower Fifth Avenue which most of you have been in for my “evenings” of controversial debates.

F. Scott Fitzgerald once stated,“The parties were bigger, the pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper” (“30 Famous The Great Gatsby Quotes”). The time after the war known as the Roaring Twenties harbored change for not only the economy but for the people also. Credit materialized, becoming available for citizens to use on new products such as the vacuum cleaner and the washing machine which allotted more time for the people to have to themselves. The 1920s, a time of celebration and prosperity, eventually ended as a result of a sudden economic crash, because of the effects from the times.

The 1920s was a decade filled with prosperity, chaos, and excitement. During the 1920s, many ground breaking inventions were introduced, such as the Model T Ford, the radio, and the television. The discoveries and cultural developments of the 1920s would go on to shape America for decades to come. The 1920s was arguably one of the most important decades in American history, in regards to the impact it had on American culture and way of life. Such an important decade should have a nickname, thus the 1920s were called the “Roaring 20s.” The decade of the 1920s is referred to as “roaring” because it was a time of dramatic social change, as demonstrated by the birth of a consumer society, the rise of a party culture, and the abandonment of long standing morals.

Anything Goes: A Bibliography of the Roaring Twenties by Lucy Moore and The Modern Temper by Lynn Dumenil are two books that wonderfully captures the essence of the 1920s, with two different texts that hold a different point of view of the era to effectively highlight the important events and characters of the time. Moore focused on the icons that made up the decade, giving her subjective survey of the principal occurrences and characters of the time that depicts The Roaring Twenties as the age of iconic events and people, of talismanic names and episodes that which she openly explores. She gives her perspective on the fascination of the 1920s rather than the catastrophes of it, which is exactly what Dumnil highlights in her own book. The

The beginning of this new jazz age sparked a time of immense change, changes that gave this decade a nickname known as “roaring”. Controversy between modernists and traditionalist was the beginning to a social war. The Nineteen Twenties were a turning point in society due to many reasons; those being social and cultural changes, new literature and authors emerging, and the economy on the brink of greatness.

Although the roaring twenties are usually thought of as a time of universal prosperity, the reality is that unless one was Caucasian and well-to-do, society tended to shun the outliers (women, minorities, etc), propelling them out of political affairs and social scenes. Women rebelled, becoming increasingly promiscuous as the decade wore on. In 1920, it would have been unheard of to show an ankle, sport a bob haircut, or darken one’s eyes with what seemed like paint. By 1928, the younger generation was revealed as socially progressive, engaging in previously unthinkable behavior such as smoking, drinking in bars, and sex. Flappers became prevalent, with their flouncy skirts and short hair adorned with a jeweled headband. The decade earned its second nickname, “The Jazz Age”, from the incredible musical talents that emerged out of Harlem and other areas of the United States, leading to a less “restrained” entertainment.

Edward Hopper, who represents arguably the zenith of the 20th century, American Realism and the 19 century artist Vincent Willem van Gogh both painted vibrant and expressive paintings during their time. In 1942 Hopper created the piece “Nighthawks” and Van Gogh created “Café Terrace at Night”, also known as The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum which was created in mid-September of 1888. Both of these compositions were painted using the same Oil on canvas medium. Both painting even have a similar setting one set in a diner the other at a Café but, both painting wanted to convey a different feel or tone. Looking closer at both works we see that, the line, shape, texture, and color allow us to recognize the difference between their styles,

Dubbed the ‘roaring 20s’, because of the massive rise in America’s economy, this social and historical context is widely remembered for its

The 1920s and 1930s were the years of the Jazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance. This period of the Roaring Twenties is said to have begun around the end of the war and lasted well until the Great Depression. Partially due to the migration of more and more African Americans into the north of the United States, the national literature, arts and music movement developed into something, until then, completely new and literary modernism spread further (Perkins and Perkins 212). The 1920s were a time of immense change, with women becoming eligible to vote, alcoholic beverages become prohibited to sell, and later on the crash of the stock market (Perkins and Perkins). With modernism and the invention of new things like the television, Americans

“The Roaring Twenties” most accurately depicts the 1920 era for three main reasons, the progression in politics, advancement in technology, and because of how the lifestyle was changing. Starting with the election of William G. Harding, to the invention of movies and the radio and finally with the creation of the flapper. The 1920s sure were roaring!

Once I stepped inside the restaurant I automatically could hear the music playing at a moderate level and the laughter of the customers. Right off the back the restaurant's ambiance had a positive vibe. Mindful, it was a Saturday late afternoon. Mary Jane Burger and Brew is a local restaurant trying to stay true to its past. The granddaughter of the original owner now runs the place with the intention of serving good quality food where the ingredients are fresh, mouth watering, and surely not filled with antibiotics and all that other genetically modified elements found in processed foods. The vintage, rustic looking place, holds a small town atmosphere with a big taste.

Steers is a quick service, burger brand and the reason behind Famous Brands group. Steers was the first restaurant group owned by Famous Brands, making it the oldest member of Famous Brands. Steers specializes in Flame Grilled burgers and has been voted Joburg’s best burger for the past 18 years as well as best chips for the past 14 years in the Leisure options Best Of Joburg Awards. The Steers burger range is dominated by 100% pure beef burgers. The food is freshly prepared in each restaurant. Steers supplies the main hamburger ingredients, including buns, patties and sauces to all its franchises through Famous Brand Services and approved suppliers. Steers has 505 restaurants