Artwork by Edward Hopper: “Cape Cod Evening”

Artwork by Edward Hopper: “Cape Cod Evening”

“Cape Code Evening: The Beauty of Rural America’s Autumn”

The woman stands with arms folded, in front of the house neat and well kept

Surrounded by autumn’s nature and beauty; green trees to the left,

And long grass, blown continuously by the autumn breeze in Cape Cod

The couple seems less engaged; space across speaks their connection cord,

In a green dress, thoughts unknown occupy her, with her body towards the man,

With her crossed arms, she looks defensive, or cold wishing for comfort from the man

The man is on the house’s porch, but more

focused on nature and dog than the woman,

There is an effortless determination by the man, seeking the dog’ affection

Which is pre-occupied and looking somewhere else, for something unknown

In the end, there is a sense of loss; for the dog, the man, the house, the woman.

Autumn’s beauty, delivers peace, happiness and hope for all,

But the evening informs of the night, arriving very soon in the fall,

An autumnal feeling is evident through the colourful palette, from trees to grass

And from the dog bright and well centred, greenish woman appeal and wooden house

The beautiful colors actively transform Cape Cod countryside, appealing to the mind,

A tone of peace and tranquillity sets in, promoted by the beautiful nature in front and behind

The oranges and dominating yellows show the magnificent and beauty of rural living,

While offering one an idea of the beauty and sweetness of autumn beaming

The dog’s stance, delivers a surprising sense of anticipation, fear, or is it hope?

With ears pricked, it the dog gazes away into the unknown, like a couple wishing to elope

The stance tells it all; something is coming, coming to America’s rural,

Is it the breeze autumn or a singing bird? Or autumn’s sibling winter arrival?

Autumn with its beauty, sets a path for imminent winter for the countryside couple,

No matter the outcome, there is a sense of hope and union,

Evident in the couple, capable of managing any issue in unison

As evening approaches, there is hope for change, and risks unknown,

Just as autumn welcomes winter, evening welcomes the night

There is hope for the house, in getting the attention of the couple again,

When everyone must come in, pushed away by the darkness outside,

There is also hope and comfort for the woman as the evening sets in Cape Cod,

The coming night gives hope for engagement, as everyone must enter the home,

A change from the goodness and difficulties that featured during the day.

The evening also brings with it unknowns for the couple and rural life

Does it present troubles? Or a sweet and peaceful life as husband and wife?

The lights, noises, cars, planes and trains of urban America lack here,

In these rural homes experiencing the effects of autumn everywhere

As the evening comes, so does a new day’s chapter – the night

The evening delivers a new day, which to some might be wrong and others right

And as the dog gazes, much is unknown from the incoming night, soon arriving

But the house gives hope; very tidy and durable, to protect all living

And with each passing night autumn’s beauty slowly fading

Winter is coming

Works Cited

Hopper, Edward. “Cape Cod Evening” (1939). Retrieved from https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.61252.html