Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean

Now I'm no great art expert, but I know what like, and I love this picture by Edward Hopper. Anyone who follows US crime novels from a line through Dashiel Hammett, Phillip Marlowe etc. will surely identify with the guy at the bar on his own. And who are the other two punters?


Hopper's first exhibition in this country for 20 years is due to open at Tate Modern on Thursday.