Two Comedians is notable for both its evocative appeal and its remarkable provenance: the work was acquired by Frank and Barbara Sinatra in 1972, and remained in their collection until it was acquired by the current owner in 1995.
The present work represents the culmination of Hopper's career, and features a self-portrait of the artist and his wife Jo, on stage, taking a final bow before turning into the unknown. Jo was Hopper's main role model and inspired all of his oeuvre, however she was generally portrayed as an anonymous character in an enigmatic scene. In Two Comedians Hopper explicitly paints his wife as the two figures hold hands and tenderly gesticulate towards each other, a placement that symbolizes their close bond and the significant role Jo played in the life and art of the 'artist.
The work manifests a number of recurring leitmotifs in Hopper's career. His choice of a stage for the setting of the present work speaks to his interest in film and across the life course, as well as his voyeuristic approach to his art and his interest in watching his subjects interact with their environment. Hopper paints himself and Jo as XNUMXth-century Italian artists, known as Pierrots. He cultivates the work to purge audiences, a decision that speaks to his affinity for artists and his regard for them as fellow strangers, who shared the same sense of detachment he often felt during his lifetime.
The blanks and voids found throughout Hopper's work are connected to the theme of death, which manifests itself emotionally in the dark and hazy background of this fascinating work.
