Narrated by award-winning actor and avid art collector Steve Martin, a new documentary film traces Edward Hopper’s varied influences, from French impressionism to the gangster films of the 1930s. Using archival photographs and old footage, as well as current pictures of the locations Hopper painted in New York and New England, the 30-minute film explores the iconic paintings and artistic impact of the revered artist. Produced by the National Gallery of Art to accompany the “Edward Hopper” exhibition on its rare tour, the documentary also includes revealing interviews with scholars, curators and artists Eric Fischl and Red Grooms, regarding Hopper’s influence on their careers.

You can catch the “Edward Hopper” exhibit at The National Gallery of Art, in Washington, DC, through January 21, 2008, and at The Art Institute of Chicago February 16 through May 11, 2008. The film is available for purchase in the Gallery Shops.

Watch a three-minute clip of the film here. Then poke around a bit on the National Gallery of Art's website. They've got some really cool interactive features related to the Hopper exhibit, including a timeline of the artist's life and art, a closer look at three of his most recognized paintings, and a visual essay about the major themes in Hopper's work.