Provincetown Art Association and Museum
Provincetown Art Association and Museum shares its recent acquisition of artwork by Edward and Josephine Hopper
Provincetown Art Association and Museum shares its recent acquisition of artwork by Edward and Josephine Hopper
Through January 28
In 2013, in preparation for its centennial celebration the following year, Provincetown Art Association and Museum launched a campaign to collect 100 significant works of art for its permanent collection. Being located on Cape Cod, the museum’s visitors often asked about the work of Edward Hopper who moved to Truro with his wife, Josephine, in 1930 and lived there for nearly 40 years.at the time, the museum owned a landscape by Josephine.they were then donated two drawings by Edward: a female nude from the Herman Maril Foundation and, several months later, Robert Duffy gifted a 1901 male nude drawing
Come 2016, an unprecedented acquisition was announced at the museum. Brothers J.anton and Laurence C. Schiffenhaus “reached out to Jim Bakker, PAAM president, to discuss the idea of having their extensive collection of art by Edward and Josephine Hopper come to the museum,” shares Christine Mccarthy, the museum’s executive director.“after several meetings, the deal was sealed and our collection now included 96 drawings by Edward Hopper, 69 drawings and watercolors by Josephine Hopper, and 24 diaries chronicling the Hoppers’ lives on Cape Cod and beyond.”
The donation, which was given by the brothers and two anonymous donors, was in honor of the Schiffenhaus’ mother, Mary, who was a close friend of the Hoppers.through January
28, PAAM will exhibit the collection in its entirety.with many of the work being drawings, Mccarthy says the pieces provide insight to the working processes of Edward and Josephine. Edward’s pieces in particular—many of which are double-sided—are studies for some of his most recognized paintings. Included are studies for Cape Cod Morning, Lee Shore, High Noon, 7 AM and
Sea Watchers, among others.“the beautiful thing
about these drawings is you can see the process.you can get inside his head,” says Mccarthy.“if you look at the single figure, it turns into a couch with a figure, then two figures.then [you can] match it to the final painting and match it to how he was thinking.” There also is a series of 10 drawings from Josephine where she draws Edward while he is at work, as well as an entire wall of the museum devoted to her watercolors.“she really paid more attention to the interior of the house,” Mccarthy explains.“the same gas lamp she did three or four times.” Josephine’s drawings also include studies of flowers, boats, airplanes, seagulls, the hills and roads, trees and more.