November 3–March 3
orman Rockwell created hallmark images of everyday life, providing a personalized interpretation—albeit often an idealized one—of American identity. His depictions contributed to a popular iconography of the U.S. that offered a reassuring visual haven during a time defined by momentous change as the country evolved into a complex, modern society.
Born in New York City in 1894, Rockwell left high school in 1909 to attend the National Academy of Design. A year later, he transferred to the Art Students League of New York, where he learned the rigorous technical skills he relied upon throughout his career. Rockwell soon experienced success as an illustrator, garnering his first commission before his 16th birthday. While in his teens, he became an art director for Boys' Life, the official publication of the Boy Scouts. At 21, having established his home and studio in New Rochelle, New York, he began producing work for Life, Literary Digest, and Country Gentleman magazines. In 1916 Rockwell married Irene O'Connor and in that same year published his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post—the most highly regarded commission among illustrators. This proved to be the inception of a long relationship with The Post; Rockwell ultimately created 322 covers over a 47-year span.
In 1929 Rockwell and his first wife divorced, and the following year he married Mary Barstow, with whom he had three children. During the years of the Great Depression, his scenes culled from daily life suggested that security and happiness are located in the simple sights and familiar events of American culture or in the escapist realm of the movies. After settling in Arlington, Vermont in 1939, Rockwell's work began to reflect small-town American existence and he frequently used his neighbors as models. In the 1940s, Rockwell's artistic efforts commonly addressed themes connected to World War II, from his Post cover of Rosie the Riveter, celebrating women working in factories, to his 1943 Four Freedoms series, based on President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1941 State of the Union address regarding human rights.
Rockwell moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts in 1953. Six years later his wife died suddenly. Despite this unexpected tragedy, Rockwell continued his prolific output and undertook new pursuits, collaborating with one of his sons on an autobiography, My Adventures as an Illustrator (Doubleday, 1960). In 1961, he married again, to Molly Punderson. After his association with The Post ended in 1963 for reasons that remain unclear, Rockwell went to Look magazine, where his work explored the concerns and interests of the tumultuous time from the Civil Rights movement to space travel. Rockwell died in 1978, but left a lasting legacy with his optimistic chronicle of American life that continues to present a certain nostalgic notion of the U.S.
Norman Rockwell: Pictures for the American People is organized into four primary themes—Inventing America, Drawing on the Past, Celebrating the Commonplace, and Honoring the American Spirit—designed to uncover and emphasize Rockwell's most common rhetorical and narrative strategies, which have served to capture the imagination of a worldwide audience. Inventing America explores images that mediate between the old and the new, advancing a comforting view of America during transformations and innovations that occurred during the 20th century. Drawing on the Past examines Rockwell's use of characters and scenes taken from American history and literature with which he generated a visual encyclopedia illustrating Anglo-American heritage. Celebrating the Commonplace documents his remarkable ability to focus on ordinary moments from quotidian life and permeate these with new and greater significance. Finally, Honoring the American Spirit brings together images that engage difficult social issues, promote patriotism, and investigate ideas that were important to Americans.