In class on Monday we observed and discussed two paintings; the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and Nighthawks by Edward Hopper. Nighthawks reached out to me in a peculiar way. At a glance it appears to be a snapshot of an ordinary diner or bar, but it tells a deeper story. It tells one of struggle, exhaustion, and loneliness, yet radiates  a sense of comfort and companionship in the lonely night. The painting is set in a dark deserted street with four characters. Each one has their obvious differences but also overwhelming similarities. They all seem strung out, particularly the man sitting alone and the bartender. The bartender appears to have been working for years behind that counter, and is used to spending time with lonely souls such the single man. They probably stopped in for a bite to eat and some coffee after a grueling day of work. The picture represents an American theme to me. That theme is the struggle of the working class to make a living in the city. The image shows these working class people taking an opportunity to relax, even at odd hours of the night. I believe the painting is titled “Nighthawks” because of the characters who are seizing the night, compared to a hawk that seizes its prey. Mona Lisa is a very interesting painting. I was never too impressed by it until this year, when we began to look deeper into art, beginning with our night at the museum, through Ways of Seeing, and in this class. It is a puzzling work of art to say the least. From the woman’s subtle facial expressions and piercing gaze, to the extravagant landscape in the background. The background is very appealing to me. It is a natural environment which appears to be a river surrounded by mountain ranges and a quarry. The woman’s eyes are the focal point of the picture which stare right back at you. It is the first thing you notice and I find it incredible in the way the artist captured such realism. The portrait holds a mysterious essence that is difficult to pinpoint, given its normality.