Norman Rockwell
(American, 1894 - 1978)
“Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed.”
— Norman Rockwell
American genre-painter, Norman Rockwell, known as ‘America’s most beloved painter’, largely focused his realistic artwork on everyday mid-20th century American humor and charm, and conveyed inspired and culture-defining messages of hope and acceptance to the people. His foremost message is of inclusion. The people portrayed in his paintings have captivated and will continue to captivate their viewers. His works often have a sense of sentimentality, nostalgia, charm, and humor. There is an appreciable humanity to almost all of his characters.
Rockwell was born in New York City to Jarvis and Nancy Rockwell on February 3, 1894. He was naturally inclined to draw as a child, and his grandfather, who was a meticulous painter, may have also inspired him. At age 16, he was so positive about his career as an artist that he dropped out of high school and enrolled at the National Academy of Design, devoting himself entirely to his craft. He later transferred to and graduated from the Art Students League of New York, and then found work immediately as an illustrator for Boy’s Life magazine.
He painted the first cover for The Saturday Evening Post in 1916, beginning what would become a 47-year relationship with the American magazine, during which he would produce 321 covers. He married his first wife, Irene O’Connor, but it was a short-lived marriage. The 1930s and 40s were a particularly positive period for Rockwell; he and schoolteacher Mary Barstow married and had three sons. The family moved to Arlington, Vermont- a new environment with ample material for the artist to draw from.
He painted what he saw and what he wanted the world to be like, as in The Four Freedoms, inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s speech to congress about the “four essential human freedoms”. Rockwell completed the series in six months, and the Post published it in 1943. The four paintings toured the United States, raising more than $130 million towards the World War II effort. Numerous other magazines requested to reprint the paintings due to their enormous popularity. Readers voted Saying Grace the all-time favorite of his Post covers, an example of his portrayal of a world in which very different people were able to get along, or, at least, respect each other’s opinions.
In 1953, the Rockwells relocated to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. After Mary unexpectedly passed away, Rockwell married Molly Punderson. She supported his decision to leave the conservative Post and pursue cover work for liberal Look. During this time, his subjects turned to social issues the country faced, and themes included poverty, race, and the Vietnam War. Norman Rockwell passed away November 8, 1978 of emphysema. Fine art critics were not always supportive of Rockwell in his time; it was the public who admired his work the most. His physical skill in expressing of his ideas was exceptional, and his vision of the American spirit indispensable. People saw the best of themselves in it.
In the 1960s, Brooklyn Museum director Thomas Buechner predicted that Rockwell’s work would stand the test of time, and he was right. Critics and curators have increasingly reexamined Rockwell’s oeuvre, finding important narrative value and technical value as well as political, cultural, and historical value. Private collectors of Rockwell’s work include famous film directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.
American Fine Art, Inc. is proud to feature the original works and limited editions of Norman Rockwell. Visit our 12,000 sq. ft. showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona or call today. Our website is offered only as a limited place to browse or refresh your memory and is not a reflection of our current inventory. To learn more about collecting, pricing, value, or any other art information, please contact one of our International Art Consultants. We look forward to giving you the one on one attention you deserve when building your fine art collection. We hope you find our website helpful and look forward to seeing you in Scottsdale soon.