Abstract
The success of the Melancholy show demonstrated that existential issues are a productive source of inspiration for artists. Universal melancholy affects both painters and spectators. Hopper's Nighthawks and De Chirico's Mystery and Melancholy of a Street represent human metaphysical concern, human philosophical thoughts, and human existential anguish in two different ways. Whereas Hopper uses human beings and an urban landscape, De Chirico painted a worrying landscape without any human presence. Their treatment of colors and light have many points in common and both the works of art invite the spectator to make a story out of the painting, to create a scenario which aims at making us reflect on philosophical and existential issues. In order to study how the two painters manage to transpose philosophy in painting, it is worth comparing the use of colors, light and shadows, the composition, the role of human beings and especially the spectators, in the two works of arts.
