Final answer:
Edward Hopper's Nighthawks differs from Impressionist painting due to its timeless feel, slick paint application, and its focus on geometrical design, light and shadow interaction, and emotion, unlike the fleeting moments and light effects captured by Impressionist works.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edward Hopper's Nighthawks is different from an Impressionist painting because Hopper used a distinct approach characterized by a timeless feel, slick paint application that gives it an almost advertisement-like quality, and a focus on geometrical design, balance, and the interaction of light and shadow.
Unlike Impressionism, which often captures fleeting moments and the effects of light, Hopper's work in Nighthawks portrays a sense of urban isolation and detachment with flat, abstracting planes of color and a lack of narrative storytelling, drawing the viewer into a quiet, introspective moment. Hopper's unique style, focusing on the emotion of the scene and the artificial light casting specific shadows, creates a mood distinct from the spontaneous and vibrant brushwork of Impressionist artists.