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A Young Person’s Guide to a Hopper Painting

Edward Hopper's © The Metropolitan Museum of Art Edward Hopper’s “Tables for Ladies,” oil on canvas painting, 1930.

Dear Diary:

A few weeks ago I gave a tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to a group of second-grade children from a New York elementary school. Among the works of art we looked at was Edward Hopper’s “Tables for Ladies.” It shows a scene in a restaurant with a waitress, a cashier, and a couple sitting at a table across from each other, but not seemingly engaged.

I asked the students to make up a story based on the painting. One very energetic little girl stood up and gave a rousing account, ending with her interpretation of the couple: “I think they’re waiting for the restaurant inspector!”

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