Elizabeth Griffiths Smith Hopper, The Artist's Mother - Edward Hopper
Archival giclée
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Description
A portrait of the artist's mother by Edward Hopper, rendered in oil with a focus on psychological depth and painterly technique.
This portrait depicts Elizabeth Griffiths Smith Hopper, the mother of the American painter Edward Hopper. Executed in oil on canvas, the work provides a glimpse into the artist's early career before he achieved his later reputation for urban isolation and cinematic lighting. The composition is straightforward, focusing on the sitter in a three-quarter view against a neutral, draped background.
Hopper employs a direct approach to his subject, capturing his mother with a sense of gravity and psychological weight. The palette is dominated by the deep violet of her dress, which contrasts with the white lace collar and her silver hair. The brushwork is confident and painterly, showing the influence of his training under Robert Henri and the Ashcan School. Unlike his later, more clinical depictions of American life, this portrait retains a traditional academic structure while hinting at the sombre, introspective mood that would define his mature output.
The lighting is focused, drawing attention to the sitter's face and hands, which rest calmly in her lap. The background remains indistinct, ensuring that the viewer's attention stays fixed on the figure. This painting is a significant example of Hopper's early portraiture, demonstrating his ability to convey character through subtle shifts in tone and posture. It remains a quiet, observational study of a family member, rendered with technical precision and a restrained emotional register.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Elizabeth Griffiths Smith Hopper, The Artist's Mother - Edward Hopper
Artist Biography
Edward Hopper
He grew up in Nyack, a small town on the Hudson River, studied illustration, then moved to Robert Henri's painting class at the New York School of Art. Henri was the central figure of the Ashcan School, which painted American life without prettifying it. Hopper absorbed the directness but not the social energy. His paintings got quieter, more still, more concerned with what people look like when they think nobody is watching.
He went to Paris three times between 1906 and 1910 and came back with Degas and Manet in his head: cropped compositions, angled light, figures caught mid-thought. Then he spent a decade failing commercially, working as an illustrator to pay the bills, and painting watercolours that nobody bought. Success came late. His first solo show was at forty-one.
In 1924 he married Josephine Nivison, a painter who had also studied under Henri. She modelled for nearly every female figure in his paintings, managed his career, and kept detailed records of every work he produced. The marriage was difficult. Both of them had sharp tempers. She engineered his public image as a recluse, which he was, mostly.
Nighthawks, the diner painting, was made in 1942. Jo named it. Hopper admitted he was probably painting the loneliness of a large city, though he was reluctant to say so directly. The diner has no visible door. People have pointed this out for eighty years and nobody has determined whether it was intentional.
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