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#3236p
1998 32c Four Centuries of American Art: Edward Hopper
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US #3236p
1998 Edward Hopper
- Shows detail from Nighthawks
- From a pane featuring 20 art pieces produced by American artists
- Part of Classic Collection series
Stamp Category: Commemorative,
Set: Four Centuries of American Art
Value: 32¢, First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: August 27, 1998
First Day City: Santa Clara, California
Quantity Issued: 4,000,000
Printed by: Sennett Security Products
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Pane of 20
Perforations: 10.2
Why the stamp was issued: This stamp is part of a pane highlighting 20 of the most important American works of art produced in the last 400 years.
About the stamp design: The stamps show details from 20 works. Howard Paine, a USPS art director, designed the layout for the pane. He consulted with an expert on American art in choosing which paintings to include. Paine arranged the art in chronological order.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the opening event of Stampshow 98, which took place in Santa Clara, California.
About the Classic Collection series: The Classic Collections series began in 1994 with the Legends of the West issue. The idea originated from Carl Burcham, manager of stamp and product marketing for USPS at the time. Each Classic Collections set consists of a pane of 20 different semi-jumbo stamps with descriptive selvage at the top (header) and informational text on the back of each stamp beneath the gum. The stamps are “broadly defined, Americana-themed subjects.”
The series began six years earlier with the infamous Legends of the West sheet in 1994. Each sheet in the series would have the same unique 20-stamp format. Each would have broadly defined Americana themes, exceptional artwork, a banner printed on the selvage of the sheet, and descriptive text on the back of each stamp. Additionally, postal cards with matching artwork would be issued to coordinate with a few of the sheets.
In 1998, the sixth addition to the series honored four centuries of American Art. The text on the back of the pane reads, “The American artists represented here were born in diverse places around this country, as well as elsewhere. Some were self-taught, others were academically trained… These images … reflect some of the enduring themes in American visual arts: a concern with individuality in a democratic society, reverence for the variety of landscape across the continent, down-to-earth realism, and a recurring sense of optimism and energy.”
History the stamp represents: Realist painter Edward Hopper was born on July 22, 1882, in Upper Nyack, New York. He displayed a talent for drawing at an early age. By the time he was a teenager, Hopper was drawing and painting and making political cartoons.
Hopper decided to pursue a career as an artist. His parents continued to support his ambitions, but also wanted him to have a way to make money, so they encouraged him to study commercial art. He went on to study at the New York School of Art and Design under William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri. Henri, in particular, had a significant influence on Hopper.
Hopper took a part-time job in 1905, creating cover designs for trade magazines. He grew bored with illustration and made three trips to Paris to study art there. While most American artists were exploring the abstract cubist work, Hopper was inspired by realist art.
Hopper returned to America and rented a studio in New York City. He worked as a freelance illustrator while trying to find painting inspiration. In 1912, he went to Gloucester, Massachusetts and began painting outdoor scenes. The following year, he sold his first painting at the famed Armory Show. Around this time, Hopper also began illustrating movie posters, started etching, and later produced posters for the war effort. When he found the time, he produced outdoor watercolors of New England.
In 1918, the artist won an award for his war poster, Smash the Hun. And in 1923, he received two awards for his etchings. After selling all of his watercolors at a one-man show, he finally felt comfortable enough to quit commercial illustration.
Much of Hopper’s work focused on American architecture. He was fascinated by the shadows created by turrets, towers, porches, and roofs. Hopper said that his “favorite thing was painting sunlight on the side of a house.” His candid works often feature city streets, restaurants, movie theaters, storefronts, and homes as their subjects. Although the paintings appear to be straightforward scenes, most attempt to convey isolation and seclusion.
Hopper did better during the Depression than most other artists. Several museums paid thousands of dollars for his works – he sold 30 paintings and 13 watercolors in one year alone. He enjoyed several decades of success, enabling him to have a home in New York City and a summer cottage in Cape Cod. He also purchased his first car so he could explore and find new painting inspiration.
US #3236p
1998 Edward Hopper
- Shows detail from Nighthawks
- From a pane featuring 20 art pieces produced by American artists
- Part of Classic Collection series
Stamp Category: Commemorative,
Set: Four Centuries of American Art
Value: 32¢, First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: August 27, 1998
First Day City: Santa Clara, California
Quantity Issued: 4,000,000
Printed by: Sennett Security Products
Printing Method: Photogravure
Format: Pane of 20
Perforations: 10.2
Why the stamp was issued: This stamp is part of a pane highlighting 20 of the most important American works of art produced in the last 400 years.
About the stamp design: The stamps show details from 20 works. Howard Paine, a USPS art director, designed the layout for the pane. He consulted with an expert on American art in choosing which paintings to include. Paine arranged the art in chronological order.
First Day City: The First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the opening event of Stampshow 98, which took place in Santa Clara, California.
About the Classic Collection series: The Classic Collections series began in 1994 with the Legends of the West issue. The idea originated from Carl Burcham, manager of stamp and product marketing for USPS at the time. Each Classic Collections set consists of a pane of 20 different semi-jumbo stamps with descriptive selvage at the top (header) and informational text on the back of each stamp beneath the gum. The stamps are “broadly defined, Americana-themed subjects.”
The series began six years earlier with the infamous Legends of the West sheet in 1994. Each sheet in the series would have the same unique 20-stamp format. Each would have broadly defined Americana themes, exceptional artwork, a banner printed on the selvage of the sheet, and descriptive text on the back of each stamp. Additionally, postal cards with matching artwork would be issued to coordinate with a few of the sheets.
In 1998, the sixth addition to the series honored four centuries of American Art. The text on the back of the pane reads, “The American artists represented here were born in diverse places around this country, as well as elsewhere. Some were self-taught, others were academically trained… These images … reflect some of the enduring themes in American visual arts: a concern with individuality in a democratic society, reverence for the variety of landscape across the continent, down-to-earth realism, and a recurring sense of optimism and energy.”
History the stamp represents: Realist painter Edward Hopper was born on July 22, 1882, in Upper Nyack, New York. He displayed a talent for drawing at an early age. By the time he was a teenager, Hopper was drawing and painting and making political cartoons.
Hopper decided to pursue a career as an artist. His parents continued to support his ambitions, but also wanted him to have a way to make money, so they encouraged him to study commercial art. He went on to study at the New York School of Art and Design under William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri. Henri, in particular, had a significant influence on Hopper.
Hopper took a part-time job in 1905, creating cover designs for trade magazines. He grew bored with illustration and made three trips to Paris to study art there. While most American artists were exploring the abstract cubist work, Hopper was inspired by realist art.
Hopper returned to America and rented a studio in New York City. He worked as a freelance illustrator while trying to find painting inspiration. In 1912, he went to Gloucester, Massachusetts and began painting outdoor scenes. The following year, he sold his first painting at the famed Armory Show. Around this time, Hopper also began illustrating movie posters, started etching, and later produced posters for the war effort. When he found the time, he produced outdoor watercolors of New England.
In 1918, the artist won an award for his war poster, Smash the Hun. And in 1923, he received two awards for his etchings. After selling all of his watercolors at a one-man show, he finally felt comfortable enough to quit commercial illustration.
Much of Hopper’s work focused on American architecture. He was fascinated by the shadows created by turrets, towers, porches, and roofs. Hopper said that his “favorite thing was painting sunlight on the side of a house.” His candid works often feature city streets, restaurants, movie theaters, storefronts, and homes as their subjects. Although the paintings appear to be straightforward scenes, most attempt to convey isolation and seclusion.
Hopper did better during the Depression than most other artists. Several museums paid thousands of dollars for his works – he sold 30 paintings and 13 watercolors in one year alone. He enjoyed several decades of success, enabling him to have a home in New York City and a summer cottage in Cape Cod. He also purchased his first car so he could explore and find new painting inspiration.
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