Chop Suey, 1929, Edward Hopper.
In a bibliography by Gail Levin,
the location of Chop Suey is described, “…the setting recalled the inexpensive,
second floor Chinese restaurant the Hoppers had been frequenting in Columbus
Circle”. This might explain the primary focus on the woman (possibly his wife,
Jo) and the dullness of the surroundings. If it was a place Edward Hopper had
frequently visited then there would be no reason to concentrate on the
surroundings, but rather the moment of the scene.
According to art scholar David Anfam, one
"striking detail of Chop Suey is that its female subject faces her
doppelgänger."……Others have pointed out it would not be so unusual for two
women to be wearing similar hats, and that it is presumptuous to claim
doppelgängers when one subject's face is not visible to the viewer.