William V. Graff

1913

His first sale: “Sailing” at the Armory Show

At the Armory Show in New York Hopper sells his first painting, “Sailing” (1911), painted over an earlier self-portrait, to the businessman Thomas F. Vietor for $250. The thirty-one-year-old hopes his first sale will lead to others in short order, but his career will not catch on for many more years.

1913

His father's death, and the move to 3 Washington Square North

In September 1913 his father, Garret Henry Hopper, a dry-goods merchant who had retired at forty-nine, dies; shortly afterwards Hopper moves to an apartment at 3 Washington Square North in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, where he will live for the rest of his life.

1915–1923

Turning to etching

At an impasse over his oil paintings, in 1915 Hopper turns to etching; by 1923 he has produced most of his approximately 70 etchings, many of them urban scenes of Paris and New York, as well as some posters for the war effort.

1916–1919

Monhegan Island: seascapes

Hopper paints the majority of his pure seascapes of rocks, sea and beach grass on Monhegan Island between 1916 and 1919, mostly in strong light and fair weather.

1918

The Shipping Board Prize for “Smash the Hun”

In 1918 Hopper is awarded the $300 U.S. Shipping Board Prize for his war poster “Smash the Hun”.

January 1920

A one-man show at the Whitney Studio Club

In January 1920 a one-man exhibition of Hopper's work is held at the Whitney Studio Club, the precursor to the Whitney Museum; earlier, in 1917, he took part in a show of the Society of Independent Artists, and in 1922 he exhibits again at the Whitney Studio Club.