>Introduction

The purpose of this interdisciplinary unit is to examine, through the paintings of Edward Hopper, the effects of urbanization and industrialization on the human spirit in the United States. Feelings of isolation, alienation, and dehumanization characterize the social, economic, and political changes occurring in the late l890s and early l900s. Historical readings will document the late nineteenth and early twentieth century rural migration in response to the lure of the city and new opportunities for employment.

The literature of this period, including poetry, short stories, and excerpts from novels reflects the movement from romanticism to realism. Hopper's paintings are highlighted in the context of his contemporaries, including Regionalists, the Ashcan School, and Precisionists. Hopper's paintings are compared to and contrasted with Lewis Hine's photographs of the working class. In the studio art project, students photograph themselves and transform their images into a Hopperesque work of art.

Learning standards for art and literature sections of this unit can be found at the beginning of each activity.

Art Criticism