Hopper's images beg the imposition of narrative and ask us to supply the stories that make them make sense. In particular, it is hard not to speculate about a woman the Hopper's themselves named "Shirley". Edward's wife, Jo Nivison Hopper, posed for Office at Night (as she did for most of Hopper's female images), and carefully recorded Shirley's creation in their daily work ledger. Shirley would be depicted "in blue dress, white collar, flesh stockings, black pumps & black hair & plenty of lipstick." On February 1, 1940, Jo made a note of an upcoming sketch session for Office at Night: "It's a business office with older man at his desk and a secretary, female fishing in a filing cabinet. I'm to pose for the same tonight in a tight skirt-- short to show legs. Nice that I have good legs & up & coming stockings."