“House by the Railroad” is an artwork created by Edward Hopper in 1925, employing oil on canvas as his medium. A distinctive example of New Realism, the artwork measures 73.7 by 61 cm and falls within the cityscape genre. It is currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork depicts an imposing, Victorian-style house standing alone, its form characterized by strong vertical lines and a stark contrast with the expansive sky behind it. Dominating the canvas, the house exhibits architectural details such as a grand entrance with columns and ornately decorated gables, contrasting with the surrounding emptiness. The rigid lines of the railroad in the foreground introduce a horizontal counterbalance to the verticality of the house, and suggest a barrier between the viewer and the structure. Hopper’s portrayal of light and shadow, along with the desolate landscape, evokes feelings of isolation and introspection, inviting viewers to ponder on themes of modernity, solitude, and the passage of time.
