Edward Hopper

Throughout his productive career, Edward Hopper frequently returned to the theme of the sea, and especially sailing. Hopper executed the present work, Sailboat, in 1899 at the age of seventeen, revealing his artistic talent even at an early age. The watercolor shows a pair of sailboats, both keeling slightly, one near and one far. Their alignment, as well as a buoy at left and a steamship to the right might suggest the context of a boat race. Hopper developed a lifelong passion for the sport at his childhood home of Nyack’s boat yard; later summers spent with his wife, Jo Hopper, in South Truro, Cape Cod, inspired masterful oils on the subject.

The present work is listed tenth in Hopper’s catalog raisonné, and its inscription, “First water color on water color paper,” indicates its early placement in his artistic career. Hopper’s subtle color gradations between the blues of the sea and sky and the whites of the ship and clouds anticipate the sensitivity to color in his oil paintings.