Edward Hopper

Edward Hopper was the master of moody silence, painting the quiet loneliness of American life with a stark beauty. This towering, introverted artist, who stood at 6 feet 5 inches, was known for being as quiet as his canvases. Rumor has it he could sit for days in front of his easel in "helpless unhappiness," waiting for inspiration to strike. Another whispers that he was so unimpressed with the Parisian art scene that he claimed to have never even heard of Picasso. His long-suffering wife, Jo, was his sole female model for his entire career, a testament to either profound devotion or extreme frugality. Hopper captured the feeling of being alone in a crowd, and his work will make you want to stare thoughtfully out a window, preferably at a desolate, sun-drenched street corner.