Art Mon Mar 03 2008

Hopper and Homer

Hopper and Homer would make fantastic names for a pair of hamsters. For now, they make an excellent combination in the halls of the Art Institute, which has been hosting a major Hopper and Homer show since February. On display are dozens of Homer's watercolors and sketches, which reveal his preoccupation with capturing light. Boats on the water, Civil War scenes, and landscapes form the subject matter of many of the exhibited works, all portrayed by Homer in a straightforward, unsentimental manner. Meanwhile, the Hopper exhibition marks the first time in 25 years that any museum outside New York has presented such a comprehensive display of works from his 70-year career. Hopper was a master of making the quotidian seem monumental and mysterious (what were those Nighthawks doing together, anyway?); his imagery will make you nostalgic for a time when you could visit a cafe without having your train of thought derailed by a ring tone. Through May 10.

- Lauri