Open Viewing

For a closer look at a picture of the actual painting, click on it.

First impressions: loneliness. The unclear contrast of light and dark between the diner and the streets gives off a sort of ambiguity to the time of night; we know it is night, but we're not sure when. The streets and windows are completely empty, as opposed to the diner which seems to have a man by himself, a couple of some kind, and a soda jerk (appropriate term?), bending down, looking out the window. Several questions arise; why is the man with his back to the glass by himself? What is he looking at? What is the soda guy looking at? He appears to have his mouth open, as if he is saying something. The couple are almost holding hands, but the lady is looking at her right hand almost with a twinge of detachment. The three customers all have coffee cups. It appears the concept of "the dead of night" is significant. The name of the diner is "Phillie's," with what appears to be a cigar next to it, costing only five cents. This seems to establish that this is an older time. The clothing is very early 20th century, the men have fedoras and the lady is wearing a sharp red. She almost jumps right out of the painting, painted up in a loud dress with red hair and red lips. Although slightly off center, she seems to be the focus of the paintings desire, a clear contrast against the dull pastels of the rest of the piece. The sheer melancholy of the late-nighters is embodied in this soft, quiet color scheme of blue, gray, green and brown. I find myself questioning: who is comfortable eating alone? What are the connotations of such an action? And do the couple, in their indifference, look down on the lonely man? Upon looking closer, it seems like there is no way out of the diner for either the patrons nor the bartender. What is he, anyway? He almost looks like a milkman.