bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

One of my favorite artists is Norman Rockwell (1894 – 1978). He painted in a style that reflected how simple life was during his generation. Oh, if we could only live life like that again! His works have a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life he created for “The Saturday Evening Post” magazine over nearly five decades. His paintings numbered more than 4,000, and while I know you’d like to have all those posted here, UHH allows only 10, so here are a few samplings of Norman Rockwell…

1. Freedom From Want


2. After the Prom


3. Barbershop Quartet


4. Before the Date


5. Before the Shot


6. Bottom of the 6th


7. Changing a Flat


8. Coin Toss


9. Doctor and the Doll


10. Holdout

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Thanks for sharing.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

He certainly captured life of that period. I'm glad you posted these.
--Bob

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Thank you for this wonderful refreshing look at Norman Rockwell's work.
I am sure you know that Rockwell used staged photos to project and work from
for his great paintings. Each of his works is a story built in and personalities
of American people. His rendering and layout skills are amazing.
Here is an interesting explanation of his use of photography to execute
his ideas and vision. For me how interesting. Thanks again.

https://petapixel.com/2012/12/27/the-photographs-norman-rockwell-used-to-create-his-famous-paintings/

ncribble Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Wonderful post and his work certainly captured the soul of America. We had the opportunity to visit the Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass this last fall, and OH! it is impressive. Here is a Travel Log that I wrote on that visit. https://ncribble.com/2019Norway/ne.newport.rockwell.html

Thanks
Norm

bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

I didn't know that...that most all of his paintings started out as photographs. That URL to petapixel is a wonderful explanation of how his paintings came to be. Thanks Tomcat5133.

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

One of my favorite artists also.

theoldman

Bobbyjohn,

Norman Rockwell's work has animated my life long search for remnants of the life he depicted. I have stories and photographs of hundreds of would-be Norman Rockwell communities, and a few of some that wanted to recreate that era.

Post dumped him because he was not with it, in their mind. They assigned him to do heads of famous people and he eventually left. Too bad, because his images expressed what we wished we were, something we might aspire to be, something we imagined existed just over in the next town. I believe it was a powerful force in shaping our vision of ourselves, even if his paintings were not of typical scenes.

In a few places in America, Rockwell's images were close to real.

Search the Archive.Org site for Ivan Besse movies he took in the 1930's in Britton, SD. His 16mm images should inspire anyone who would like to imagine a different time in small town America. Perhaps Besse was inspired by Rockwell.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Rockwell was a Master for sure!

But his depictions of a simpler time were idealistic for the most part. I doubt that most of the families in those decades in which he was active with the Saturday Evening Post were living as idyllically and secure a life as his illustrations depicted. I know that was the case where I grew up.

Stan

Tinkerbell Loc: Bethalto IL

Thank you for sharing! I loved it!

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Thanks what is s the photos are so amazing the poses the layouts are wonderful.
His talent in seeing and creating a story about Americana and the people here. Good stuff
you put up as a post. Congrats.

waymond Loc: Pflugerville, Texas

Classics.
It's highly unlikely that we will see that talent again.
Thanks for sharing.

rdemarco52 Loc: Wantagh, NY

Very nice. I have been to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge MA. Definitely worth a visit if you are up that way.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Very nice. He used local people as models for his paintings. We live not far from his town, Stockwell, MA, and we've been there many times. They have a great Rockwell museum.

https://www.nrm.org/

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

The y are great - thank you. The greatest part of his painting is the expressions on the faces.