Lighthouse Village (also known as Cape Elizabeth)

1929

Edward Hopper

(American, 1882–1967)

Culture

America

Medium

watercolor with gouache over graphite

Support

Cream wove paper

Measurements

Sheet: 40.5 x 63.3 cm (15 15/16 x 24 15/16 in.)

Credit Line

Hinman B. Hurlbut Collection 1930.851

Catalogue raisonné

Levin W-228

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Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

In an interview published in 1962, Edward Hopper described this watercolor's setting, saying that "I like Maine very much but it gets so cold in fall."

Description

Edward Hopper made this watercolor during the last of several painting excursions that he took to Maine. He had painted the lighthouse at Cape Elizabeth once two years before, but found the structure so interesting that he returned to it in this drawing. Hopper was especially attracted to the varying green tones of the grass and the combination of buildings, each with a different purpose, including one where the lighthouse keepers slept and the three at the bottom where coast guard families lived. He used a slightly different tone of watercolor for each of the structures to accurately convey the reflection of light on them.