< Hold down the mouse and drag on the image (left) to navigate through the gallery. Click on an object to view a larger detail.> How did Office at Night become part of the Walker Art Center's permanent collection? In 1948, the Walker Art Center and the Young-Quinlan Company (a local department store) copresented the Walker's fourth annual so-called "purchase exhibition," New Paintings to Know and Buy. An estimated 9,000 visitors saw the show at the Walker and 18,000 more were reported to have seen it at the department store. The exhibition of 127 paintings was intended both to introduce new art to the public by the "best known American artists" of the time and to support these artists through the potential sale of their work. Although there are no records of public sales, documents show that the Walker accessioned eight works for its permanent collection, recommended by Visual Arts Curator Norman A. Geske, Walker Assistant Director William Friedman, and Walker Art School teacher Mac Le Sueur. Although Edward Hopper's Office at Night initially received only two of three votes, It became one of the eight acquisitions. These works were purchased through the Gilbert M. Walker Memorial Fund, which had been established specifically for the Walker's acquisition of modern and contemporary art.