Edward Hopper exemplifies the apogee of 20th century American realism. After training under Robert Henri at the New York School of Art, Hopper worked as a commercial illustrator for the first half of his life. In fact, although Hopper sold a variety of prints and watercolors on the side, he did not achieve his first artistic success until the age of forty-three. At the Rehn Gallery in 1924, all of Hopper's exhibited works were purchased. From this point on, Hopper's use of light, isolation, and storytelling in his works would define him. Hopper's impact was so dramatic that Alfred Hitchcock would later use his painting, The House by the Railroad, as inspiration for his classic film, Psycho ("Edward Hopper"). Nighthawks is Edward Hopper's most famous work. The title itself refers to the nocturnal figures who reside in the painting, seated at a restaurant table. This painting is an American classic, appearing in the pop culture of its time and in more current examples. Just do a quick Google images search and you'll find plenty of parodies, replacing characters from the original with those from Star Wars, The Simpsons, CSI and, most recently, The Walking Dead. There is no doubt that Hopper made his mark on the American art scene with this masterpiece, and there are many reasons why it became so important. Edward Hopper's distinguished painting, Nighthawks, is a depiction of the pinnacle of American realism, the attitude of Americans during World War II, and the expansion of New York City. Exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, Nighthawks is an oil and canvas work that depicts Edward Hopper at his most iconic and popular. Hopper more than often drew inspiration from his immediate surroundings Middle of paper...... Hopper was posthumously recognized for his contributions to the field because of the timeless power of works like Nighthawks. The painting still conjures up a fascinating, if gaunt, spectacle for the imagination. Works Cited Chilvers, Ian. "Realism." A dictionary of modern and contemporary art (2 ed.). Np: Oxford UP, 2012. Oxford Reference. Internet. April 10, 2013. Douglas, Ann. Terrible Honesty: Mongrel Manhattan in the 1920s. New York: First Noonday Press, 1995. Print. Dumenil, Lynn, ed. “New York City.” The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Social History. Np: Oxford UP, 2012. Oxford reference. Internet. April 8, 2013. “Edward Hopper.” American cultural leaders. 2001. Electronic library. Internet. April 14, 2013. McNeese, Tim. World War II 139-1945. New York: Chelsea House, 2010. Infobase eBooks.Web. April 14, 2013. “World War II.” American History. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. April 14. 2013.