#56. HOPPER HISTORY
I sit in the northeast corner of the Park. Across Washington Square North is the exquisite row of Greek Revival homes, Check the windows at number 3, fourth floor. Is that the ghost of Edward Hopper peering out? He lived and worked here for more than 50 years. What history did he see?
His studio is preserved as it was, easel awaiting the next canvas, potbellied stove ready for coal to warm the room. NYU owns it now and allows occasional visits, like mine. I stare out the window at the Park and wonder: Why did he never paint this view? Instead, he went up on the roof and painted chimneys and skylights.
But here’s the biggest did-you-know: his wife Jo was a painter too, had works in a show with Picasso. But eventually she became his model, agent, social secretary. Too bad. She wrote in her diary: “Of course, if there can be room for only one of us,it must undoubtedly be he. I can be glad and grateful for that.”
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