10 Major Reasons why Norman Rockwell and his paintings were iconic during his generation
Norman Rockwell started painting from an early age. He began by painting the imaginary characters from the story that were read by his father as a bedtime story. He then quit high school and joined art school to pursue his career in painting.
An early age success, at the age of 17, got to him by becoming an art director for Boy Scouts of America Journal and getting hired for various books and magazines for their covers. His paintings were impactful by employing models, costumes, and props.
Mostly his early paintings were of children caught in a humorous situation, followed by the theme-based paintings, honoring of American spirit-tradition-their past, and led to some light-hearted paintings during the time of depression.
Entering in World War on Canvas, portraying the four freedoms series and the incidents along with the American Leaders, were some other interesting facts about him.
Here are 10 Major Reasons for Norman Rockwell and his paintings to be well-known during its generation
10. Paintings had broad appeal with a punch
Paintings with rare painterly skill and unique power to communicate the messages of acceptance and hope to his audiences were Norman Rockwell’s way of portraying his art.
Though he was criticized by many, his skillful paintings did not stop being produced. Almost all the paintings did have a broad appeal along with a punch in them. His painting showed people in color with a certain role which was not the service industry roles.
With his excellent technique, clearness of touch, universally appreciatable, and high strength, he was able to impress a famous German painter George Grosz.
Over time, during the 1960s, his paintings started becoming more political and more appealing art of work. His works are still being praised today, as the great American genre paintings with uniqueness and deep connection with the audience.
9. Portrays a political turn
Norman Rockwell’s paintings took a political turn which started from some portrays of children caught with humorous situations.
Paintings with an injection of a liberal and socially conscious point of view were made for his magazines. He then began portraying paintings with compelling political contents during the 1940s.
His paintings took a massive political turn which had covers exploring World War II, the Space Race, elections between Thomas E.Dewery and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the draft.
The painting about the Four Freedoms was his first idea about a politically theme-based art. Four freedom series was meant to help promote President Franklin’s speech regarding democratic values: Freedom of Speech and expression, freedom of worship. Freedom from want and freedom from fear.
Rockwell’s decision to turn towards political paintings became an instant sensation and raised about $133 million through poster sales and exhibition tickets.
8.United Americans during Depression and WWII
In the artwork of Norman Rockwell, we can find the pride of American rich national and literary heritage and in the portrays of the family tree. It is imagined that an American lineage unfettered by class or ethnicity linking past and future
His work is mostly trying to show the America he has known and observed where he eyed for every drama and devoted to details guided to ensure the creative process. There was always a thrive for authenticity in his work.
During World War II, he also entered the war on canvas. He depicted the situations and incidents that were happening during the war on his canvas. With clarity in his work, all who were not able to witness the situation were able to see it through his portrays.
Light-hearted and mesmerizing paintings with some humor included making the situation more relaxed during that hectic period led to unite the citizen.
7. Production of 323 covers for the Saturday Evening Post
Norman Rockwell was associated with the Saturday Evening Post for almost 47 years, from 1916 to 1963. He supplied 323 paintings to the Post as the Cover of the post.
Boy with Baby Carriage(1916), Christmas: Santa with Elves(1922), Summer Vacation(1923), Football Hero(1938), Girl Reading the Posy (1941), Rosie the Riveter(1943), Thanksgiving: Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes(1945), Cheerleaders(1952), and John F. Kennedy(1963) were some of the significant Covers illustrated by Norman Rockwell during his association with the Post.
Every Painting of Norman was based on a theme imagined or based on the scenario that he came across and had some quotes such as: ‘ Right from the beginning, I always strived to capture everything I saw as completely as possible.’
People of America viewed the covers of the Saturday Evening Post as a comfortable image and a relatable image of their life.
6. Bridged the Gap: Illustrations and Fine Art
Norman Rockwell started with various illustrations that had a depiction of an idea which would clearly explain his ideals. With the paintings of children caught in a touch of humor situations and some light-hearted portrays, he always accomplished in conveying important messaged to his audiences.
Later with the passing time, he proceeded to create some artwork that would only be used for the sake of portraying an art for the commission of clients. Art which was mostly demanded by some clients was made in his later artistic career.
There was a considerable gap between Illustrations and Fine Art during his generation, which was maturely bridged by his creativity. His art piece would indulge the imaginary situations, true stories, incidents and be also meant for commissions. Also, he served on the side of the Navy during world war by painting.
5. Presidential Medal of Freedom
Norman Rockwell was honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom on January 10, 1977, at the age of 83. Gerald Ford widely praised him for brilliancy as an illustrator, author, and artist.
The most controversial and most enduring artwork of that era relatable to every citizen was produced from his studio placed next to his house. He started with the Covers of the Saturday Evening Post and then entered onto Political Issues and finally got his work acknowledged.
Indulging realism and expert imaginations while portraying and mixing them with heart-wrenching and heartwarming sides of the lifestyle of the citizen of America and their culture made every art piece a masterpiece.
With practice and sincere interest from an early age, Norman became an expert in capturing common emotional merged with complicated experiences. His work was observed by all with respect and honored with the prestigious medal.
4. State artist of Massachusetts
On February 21, 2008, Norman Rockwell, whose Art Museum is located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, was designated as the State Artist by Massachusetts.
Artwork which did not fail to influence every citizen of his generation and today’s world reflected the culture of American during the 20th Century. They also enjoyed broad appeal with some punch, various political issues, and their past, through his work.
With his famous artwork which covered the Saturday Evening Post for over 4 decades and his illustrations in Bor Magazine, he was able to attract almost the whole of the population towards his skillful portrays.
The actual law where Norman Rockwell is being designated as the State Artist of Massachusetts can be seen in the General Laws of Massachusetts — Part 1 — Title 1 — Chapter 2 — Section 8.
3. The unique process of painting
A complicated process of artwork was chosen by Norman Rockwell to make his every art piece a well-known portray.
Norman Rockwell started off with some ideas which were mostly based on the real situations and incidents that were ongoing during that period or around him.
Secondly, he would start making rough sketches of how his ideas would look when printed on a paper. Those sketches would be shown to Philadelphia for the approval.
With the completion of his rough sketches, he would then ask his assistant to photograph a model that would suit his ideal portray. With the suitable model, he would then photograph the model with the background as he wants.
After the photograph, he would trace the photograph onto a large sheet of canvas and produce a charcoal sketch with full detail work. If in case, any step did not work and the final work does not come out as planned, he would start his work all over again.
2. Four Freedoms Series effectively used for fundraising purpose
Four Freedoms Series paintings were based on the speech delivered by the then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt about the American Freedom: Freedom of Speech and Expression, Freedom of every person to worship God on its way, Freedom from want, and Freedom from fear.
Expressing the ideas of the mentioned freedoms solely in actions and relating to the daily lives of the people which was published in the Saturday Evening Post made his Four Freedoms Series famous all over.
Millions of reprints requests were received for his piece of art and led to the printing of over 25,000 sets and were sold for $0.25 per set. Later, at the end of the war, almost 4 million posters were printed.
The government planned on sending those paintings on a tour which led to raising enough funds for the government. On tour, these paintings were able to earn over 1.1 million and later helped Uncle Sam in raising about 133 million dollars worth of war bonds.
1.Illustrates the American Lifestyle
The majority of the paintings of Norman Rockwell were about Americans and their lifestyles: Solitaire, puberty, midsummer dip, and dating, as he spent most of his time observing the way the Americans lived, their ritual, their emotions, and their daily routines. He honored the American spirit, their past, and their tradition.
Historic sports matches, contentious elections, gossips in the barbershops, and a child going off to war were some of the famous artwork incorporated by Rockwell.
Indulgement of sentimentality-nostalgia, along with humor-charm and the variety in the background, gave the painting an exciting touch to his illustrations.
Portrays of some facial expressions with some nuisance and painting of figures which somehow resembled with the Americans and they related and responded to his paintings. They fell in love with the artwork which had delightful emotions, expressions, and inquisitiveness.
Conclusion:
Norman Rockwell dwelled in creating numerous illustrations, calendars, and advertisements. The first four colored painting was done by him in 1926, and the Post published them.
Paintings were always theme based. In 1945, when the peace returned, his paintings were mostly about the celebrations. Norman's painting career did not stop till his late years, after age 62, he captured American leaders in portrait.
Portrait of John Kennedy, made by Rockwell, was used in memorial issue after John F. Kennedy’s assassination.
