Edward Hopper is one of the bestknown American artists of the 20th century. His works are regarded as the epitome of a representation of American life. This catalogue casts a fresh look at Hopper's oeuvre and analyses it in a dialogue with works by the old masters.This is a completely new approach, because to date works by Hopper and the old masters have never been shown together. Central to this catalogue are the points which the works of Edward Hopper (1882-1967) have in common with those of Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675). It is not only a question here of the very noticeable compositional similarities - the works of both artists frequently show interiors with figures absorbed by their activities - but also of the possibilities of interpretation which can be derived for the work of the American master.