Certificate of Authenticity: Original by the artist
Signature: Hand-signed
Edition: Unique
Year: 2025 collection
SUPPORT: canvas
TECHNIQUE: acrylic and oil pastels
DIMENSIONS: 150 cm x 100 cm
Description by the gallery owner
Daniele Oldani presents a striking reinterpretation of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, blending surrealism, contemporary art, and pop culture. In this visionary painting, the classic American diner is transformed into a McDonald’s, symbolizing the pervasive influence of globalized modernity.
While the nocturnal, melancholic atmosphere of Hopper’s original is preserved, it is radically altered through the inclusion of iconic pop elements that create a stark contrast between Hopper’s realism and a dreamlike, almost cinematic visual language. The brightly lit McDonald’s, with its large glass windows, becomes the focal point of the composition. Inside, warm artificial light fills the space, standing in sharp contrast to the dark, empty streets outside.
But instead of ordinary patrons, Oldani populates the scene with displaced and surreal characters that heighten the sense of alienation and mystery. Outside, on a nearby bench, sits Ronald McDonald, the famous fast-food mascot. Stripped of his typical playful smile, Ronald gazes enigmatically at the viewer, inviting them into the scene—or perhaps challenging their perception of it. His presence transforms a symbol of consumer culture into something unsettling and ambiguous, hovering between the familiar and the uncanny.
Inside the restaurant, a figure in a dark cape sits with his back turned: Batman. The Dark Knight, usually associated with justice and inner torment, appears here as a casual customer sipping a drink—an ironic twist on his iconic persona. His presence in this mundane, consumerist setting adds a layer of absurdity and critique.
Across the street, reflected in a storefront window, appears Wacciu, an original character from Oldani’s own artistic universe. His purpose remains unclear, but his presence adds a dreamlike, otherworldly dimension to the narrative. Wacciu becomes a silent observer, suspended outside time and space.
To the left of the canvas, a McDonald’s billboard points to the location of the fast-food restaurant. This visual cue underscores the pervasiveness of pop culture and aggressive advertising, echoing the solitude of Hopper’s figures, but now recontextualized within a world dominated by corporate branding and visual overload.
Oldani’s artwork cleverly plays on the tension between realism and fantasy, turning the McDonald’s into a modern site of isolation and introspection. Iconic figures like Ronald McDonald and Batman feel disturbingly out of place, creating an atmosphere of disconnection and alienation. Through this painting, Daniele Oldani reflects on the contemporary human condition, where mass culture penetrates every aspect of life and the boundary between reality and fiction continues to blur.
This artwork was selected thanks to the partnership between Danilo Cascella Premium Store and Daniele Comelli Art .
Certificate of Authenticity: Original by the artist
Signature: Hand-signed
Edition: Unique
Year: 2025 collection
SUPPORT: canvas
TECHNIQUE: acrylic and oil pastels
DIMENSIONS: 150 cm x 100 cm
Description by the gallery owner
Daniele Oldani presents a striking reinterpretation of Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, blending surrealism, contemporary art, and pop culture. In this visionary painting, the classic American diner is transformed into a McDonald’s, symbolizing the pervasive influence of globalized modernity.
While the nocturnal, melancholic atmosphere of Hopper’s original is preserved, it is radically altered through the inclusion of iconic pop elements that create a stark contrast between Hopper’s realism and a dreamlike, almost cinematic visual language. The brightly lit McDonald’s, with its large glass windows, becomes the focal point of the composition. Inside, warm artificial light fills the space, standing in sharp contrast to the dark, empty streets outside.
But instead of ordinary patrons, Oldani populates the scene with displaced and surreal characters that heighten the sense of alienation and mystery. Outside, on a nearby bench, sits Ronald McDonald, the famous fast-food mascot. Stripped of his typical playful smile, Ronald gazes enigmatically at the viewer, inviting them into the scene—or perhaps challenging their perception of it. His presence transforms a symbol of consumer culture into something unsettling and ambiguous, hovering between the familiar and the uncanny.
Inside the restaurant, a figure in a dark cape sits with his back turned: Batman. The Dark Knight, usually associated with justice and inner torment, appears here as a casual customer sipping a drink—an ironic twist on his iconic persona. His presence in this mundane, consumerist setting adds a layer of absurdity and critique.
Across the street, reflected in a storefront window, appears Wacciu, an original character from Oldani’s own artistic universe. His purpose remains unclear, but his presence adds a dreamlike, otherworldly dimension to the narrative. Wacciu becomes a silent observer, suspended outside time and space.
To the left of the canvas, a McDonald’s billboard points to the location of the fast-food restaurant. This visual cue underscores the pervasiveness of pop culture and aggressive advertising, echoing the solitude of Hopper’s figures, but now recontextualized within a world dominated by corporate branding and visual overload.
Oldani’s artwork cleverly plays on the tension between realism and fantasy, turning the McDonald’s into a modern site of isolation and introspection. Iconic figures like Ronald McDonald and Batman feel disturbingly out of place, creating an atmosphere of disconnection and alienation. Through this painting, Daniele Oldani reflects on the contemporary human condition, where mass culture penetrates every aspect of life and the boundary between reality and fiction continues to blur.
This artwork was selected thanks to the partnership between Danilo Cascella Premium Store and Daniele Comelli Art .