Gas
Painting on canvas • Edward Hopper
Style & Movement
American Realism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; characterized by smooth application with subtle glazes to manage the transitions between artificial interior light and natural crepuscular light.
Creation Period
1940
Dimensions & Format
26 1/4 x 40 1/4 inches (66.7 x 102.2 cm); Landscape format
Subject Description
An isolated gas station at dusk located at the end of a highway. A lone attendant works at one of three glowing red Mobilgas pumps. The composition creates a psychological tension between the artificial light of civilization and the encroaching darkness of the wall of trees behind the station. The Pegasus sign stands as a silent sentinel in the cooling twilight.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved in a museum environment.
Estimated Market Value
$100,000,000 - $150,000,000 (Based on the sale of 'Chop Suey' for $91.8 million and the extreme rarity of major museum-grade Hopper oils).
Auction Estimate
$80,000,000 - $120,000,000+
Provenance History
Acquired by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, in 1943 through the Mrs. Simon Guggenheim Fund. Originally sold via the Frank Rehn Gallery.
Art Historical Significance
One of Hopper's most iconic works, 'Gas' encapsulates the loneliness and mystery of modern American life. It is a masterpiece of light and mood, representing the intersection of nature and industry, and is a cornerstone of 20th-century American art history.
Notable Features
The glowing red of the Mobilgas pumps provides a focal point against the deep greens and blues of the landscape. The painting features Hopper's signature use of light spilling from an interior onto a dark exterior, creating a 'liminal' space.
Condition Issues
None visible in current photograph; minor age-related craquelure may be present under microscopic inspection; stable surface.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain strictly controlled humidity (50% +/- 5%) and temperature (70°F +/- 2°F). UV-filtered lighting limited to 50-100 lux to prevent pigment degradation.