Lessons:
P-2 Edward Hopper
House by the Railroad
Overview
- Discuss House by the Railroad by Edward Hopper.
- Learn about the horizon line and lighting.
- Create a house you want people to live in.
Reflection
- Who lives in the house that you created?
- What colors and objects did you add to describe mood of the house?
- What is the title of your artwork?
House by the Railroad by Edward Hopper (1925), oil on canvas, 24 x 29 in. (61 x 73.7 cm), © 2026 Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY, Photo Credit: Digital Image © 2026 Museum Associates / LACMA. Licensed by Art Resource, NY
Discussion Presentation
Discussion Questions
Why are the windows cut off?
In this landscape, the house sits below and behind the railroad track, so the windows are cut off. The track is the horizon line, where land meets sky.
You can’t see it, but where is the sun?
The house is lit with bright highlights on the left side. The right side has dark shadows. Since the highlights are on the left, the sun is to the left.
Do you think anyone lives here?
The house lacks color and there are no people. This makes the house feel lonely. An open curtain gives the feeling that someone might live here, but the house is not full of people or things to do.
Biography
- Edward Hopper (ED-wurd HOP-ur) is a painter from New York.
- He is famous for paintings that look real and show loneliness in places.
- He uses dark shadows and bright highlights to create mood.
- He often paints loneliness in the people and places he sees.
Project
Materials
- 9×12 House print
- conical markers
Warm Up & Brainstorm
- Brainstorm a group list of positive moods, like: happy, festive, excited, cozy, silly, brave.
- Remind them where the sun is located to create the shadows on their house.
- Have them think about who lives in the house.
- No demo of techniques required.
Project Directions
Mood House
1. Add house details.
Draw details on the house that describe who lives there.
2. Add living creatures.
Draw plants, people or animals outside the house that describe the landscape.
3. Add color.
Color the house with colors that make you happy.
4. Give artwork a title.
Share (optional).
Have students describe a favorite element they added to their house.
Pre-Lesson Preparation
- No prep required.
Day of Lesson Setup
- Point out how a lack of living things might create a mood of loneliness.
- Warmup group brainstorm: who or what lives in the house? What are some positive moods, vibes, or emotions?
- Point out shadows, ask which side of the house is the sun?
- Project can be open-ended or prompts may be used, like seasonal themes.
- Ask them where the sun is located?
Hint: to look at the shadows on their house. - Prompts:
- Who lives there?
- What is the yard like?
- What time of year is it?