Final answer:
Edward Hopper depicted the loneliness of America most famously in his painting Nighthawks, employing use of light, shadow, and isolated figures to evoke a sense of solitude and urban anonymity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edward Hopper portrayed the loneliness of America in his renowned painting Nighthawks. This masterpiece captures the sense of isolation through the scene of a late-night diner, with individuals absorbed in their own worlds and failing to interact meaningfully with one another. Hopper masterfully uses geometrical design, careful composition, and notably, the lighting effects of fluorescent lighting, which was new in the 1940s. It is the stark arrangement of the scene, without a visible door for the viewer to enter, along with the introspective placement of the figures, that underscores the profound solitude evident throughout the painting.
Early Sunday Morning, another work of Hopper's, presents a different mood while still depicting New York's Greenwich Village without its inhabitants. However, Nighthawks is especially significant due to its timing, coinciding with the beginning of America's involvement in World War II, which contributes to its feeling of anxiety in contrast to the tranquility seen in Early Sunday Morning.
Hopper's effective use of light and shadow, along with the remote positioning of his figures, creates a poignant sense of timelessness and universal relevance, making Nighthawks an iconic image representative of American urban life and the inherent solitude that can be felt within it.