"Nighthawks," Edward Hopper's famous 1942 painting, has been the subject of numerous tributes and parodies. “Simpsons” characters, superheroes and the “Star Trek” cast have all taken a seat at Hopper's all-night diner. This month's medical education-themed issue of JAMA pays homage to the classic scene with an illustration depicting night-shift residents working at 2:40 a.m.
“The idea behind this image was to convey the loneliness of being on call in the middle of the night, which I believe is analogous to the loneliness conveyed in the iconic Hopper painting,” said Dr. Robert Golub, JAMA deputy editor. He added that the graphic wasn't meant to specifically illustrate the issue's studies and editorial on medical residents' 80-hour workweek, but he noted how the painting “clearly is relevant” to the subject.
Golub designed the illustration, which was created by Dr. Alison E. Burke and Cassio Lynm, both medical illustrators.
