Hopper's Room In Brooklyn, During The Great Depression

The first example will be Room in Brooklyn. The painting was created in 1932, during the Great Depression. In the painting, a woman closed by the window is looking out, as she sits on a rocking chair alone in a bare room. Since her back is shown to us, we can’t tell for sure what scenery the woman is looking at. The spectators can notice a slice of sunlight is reflected to the room, which presents that it is a perfect weather. On the corner, there’s a vase of flower on a small round table. In addition, part of the bed with red bed sheets is on the side. The main character has a short black hair, wearing a long dress in a dark blue color with her head points downward. She leans back on a rocking chair and lays both of her hands on the armrest. Since curtains are not pulled up to the top, so the views in the distance can be seen from three large mirrors, which are the factories built up by red bricks.

According to Jackson’s critique on Hopper’s masterpieces, “Hopper’s rudimentary sense of composition is sufficient for a message that conveys an insight into the present nature of American life” (Jackson, 135). The double act of looking helps spectators think about what happened to the lady at this moment. By not showing the face of the character, Hopper encourages observers to engage in his paintings by putting themselves in those characters’ shoes so as to imagine what is happening to them. The perception of the painting depends on individual’s identity and their understandings toward the