Edward Hopper painting to become U.S. postage stamp

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Edward Hopper -- the American artist of such classic paintings as ‘Nighthawks’ and ‘Early Sunday Morning’ -- is about to receive an honor from the U.S. Postal Service. On Aug. 24, a new postage stamp based on his circa-1935 painting ‘The Long Leg’ will be unveiled at a public ceremony at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, where the original artwork resides.

The new ‘forever’ stamp is the latest in the Postal Service’s American Treasures stamp series, which also includes homages to Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt and John James Audubon. The stamp features a cropped image of Hopper’s original painting.

The Postal Service had originally planned to release the Hopper stamp in 2009 but delayed in doing so because of the recession.

‘The Long Leg’ depicts a boat sailing against the wind near Provincetown, Mass. It is one of many paintings that the artist dedicated to lighthouses and other aspects of maritime life in New England. Hopper was born in Nyack, N.Y., and spent many summers in Cape Cod. He died in 1967 at age 84.

This isn’t the first time that a Hopper painting has been turned into a stamp. Hopper’s ‘The Lighthouse at Two Lights’ served as the inspiration for a 6-cent stamp in 1970 commemorating the 150th anniversary of Maine statehood.

The Huntington ceremony in San Marino is free and open to the public, but visitors will need to make reservations before Aug. 23 by calling (661) 775-6696 to confirm seating.

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-- David Ng