At the outset of his career, Norman Rockwell was not the most likely candidate for long-term celebrity; he was just one of many skillful illustrators working within the conventions of the day. But there was something tenacious about his vision, and somet It seems familiar because it was everyone's dream of America; and it was unique because only Rockwell managed to bring it to life with such authority. This was, perhaps, an America that never existed, but it was an America the public wanted to exist. And Rockwell put it together from elements that were there for everyone to see.
Rockwell helped preserve American myths, but, more than that, he recreated them and made them palatable for new generations. His function was to reassure people, to remind them of old values in times of rapid change.
Norman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States, where Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening Post magazine over more than four decades. Among the best-known of Rockwell's works are the Willie Gillis series, Rosie the Riveter (although his Rosie was reproduced less than others of the day), Saying Grace (1951), and the Four Freedoms series.
NORMAN ROCKWELL 332 MAGAZINE COVERS is a tribute to a great American artist. This book was a gift to me from my Dad. It is huge, and heavy, but a paperback version would not do it justice.
Full color reproductions are shown of Norman's work along with the author's critiques. I am not an art expert so I won't comment on that aspect of the book, though he sounds like he knows what he is talking about. So, art students check this book out.
The author says that one of the reasons Norman's work was so appealing was because it was how Americans saw themselves. I can see that, considering the time period. Young men were gentlemen and dressed up when they went calling on young ladies, who were proper ladies, even if poor. The women had stick figure bodies like Marge Simpson. No gigantic butts and bosoms, nor balloon lips, and they dressed as nice as circumstances permitted. The scenes appeared to be taken from everyday life as it was back then. Whatever the reason, Norman's paintings were popular. And when he painted portraits of famous people they looked like photographs, not like Picasso's Guernica.
Where I disagreed with the author was when he said some of Norman's works weren't that great. Now I have to rebut him here because regardless of what he says about brush strokes, colors, and etcetera, I believe it is how we interrupt the work at first glance that determines whether we like it or not. The emotions you feel can alter your judgement. I get a headache looking at Picasso's Guernica though I know what it represents.
I will comment on a couple of my favorites from the book. In THE MODEL (1924) you have this old timer with whiskers behind the counter dressed in the attire of an old time shopkeeper, but on his head is a young lady's bonnet. Sitting across from him is a young girl who is trying to decide if that is indeed the hat she wishes to purchase.
HOMECOMING GI (1945) had my Dad written all over it. A young GI, bag in hand, stands before his parents home, which looks oh so similar to my grandparents house that was in downtown Pittsburgh. Nothing fancy. You know, those old brick buildings packed close together, narrow, but three stories high. The laundry hangs from the outdoor clothesline. His mother stands on the porch with arms extended in joy that her son has returned home safe. The little star flag is in the window, symbolizing a son in the service. My father and his three brothers served in the Korean War. His father beams with happiness over his mother's shoulder. Sisters are running out to greet their brother. Neighbors were close literally and figuratively in the ethnic neighborhood, so they were joyous as well. And peaking around the corner is my mother waiting for her chance to welcome him home.
THE SHINER (1953) The little schoolgirl sits on the bench outside the principal's office as the teacher is explaining what happened. Her clothes are disheveled and her hair is a tangled mess. There is a bandage on her knee and she sports a shiner on her left eye. Yet the proud smile on her face seems to say, "You should see the other guy!" Whether she was standing up to a bully or discovering she now had feelings for some boy her posture says, "It was worth it!"
These paintings graced the covers of magazines for five decades.
I am giving this five stars in honor of Rockwell's great talent.
A few weeks ago, I won an untitled reprint of a Norman Rockwell painting at a charity auction. It's big, much bigger than the original as I found out later, and it came with a huge carved oak frame. Very reminiscent of the 1920's and time-period appropriate. Whoever had this reprint before me must have loved it.
I didn't know much about the painting itself or Norman Rockwell aside from the general details of his life and work. So, after bringing the reprint home, I did a little research and found that the original painting was called "Crackers in Bed" (full name "And Every Lad May Be Aladdin (Crackers in Bed))." It was painted in 1920 and was originally an ad in a magazine. It shows a boy reading a book in bed with a dog at his feet and his right hand is reaching into a box of crackers. It's a very warm and homey scene, and that was what drew me to it.
I don't know how to mount the reprint (yet) or on which wall it should hang, so I currently have it standing against a wall in my kitchen with a few textbooks underneath to keep it off the uneven floor tiles.
Having this reprint inspired me to read up on Norman Rockwell, his style, and his other paintings. I'm especially interested in the paintings that were commissioned for magazine and newspaper ads that have become iconic over the years
This book, 332 Magazine Covers, is exactly that--332 Norman Rockwell paintings that appeared on magazine covers with annotations by the author Christopher Finch (I love a straightforward title). The pictures in the ebook edition aren't sharp enough to show all the details of each painting and so you might not see or miss at first glance what Finch points out in his annotations. I found a hardcover edition of this book on eBay, and it's huge and beautiful. It's the kind of coffee-table book that I would actually keep on my coffee table (if only my coffee table could handle the weight).
(This was an ad for the Edison Mazda company which made lightbulbs, not crackers as I had assumed, which makes sense because of the placement of the lamp in the foreground and the intensity of the light shining from it onto the boy's book is the only source of light in this scene.)
I bought a Tiny Folio, and while the selection was good, it lacked some important Rockwell classics (but for some reason, there were Christmas image reproduced time and time again); more importantly, the format was not really suitable for showcasing Rockwell's work - many of his illustrations work, to a degree, like charades, and you miss clues if you cannot spot objects or details in an image.
Norman Rockwell is one of many illustrators who inspires me. No doubt, he is a master storyteller. This book perfectly describes and exhibits 332 of his gorgeous works. I enjoy looking at every single page. His artwork moves me every time I look at it. Human beings, animals, mood, events, he created them with passion.
I picked this up last year visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum. The book is exactly as advertised: 332 of Rockwell's magazine covers, focusing primarily on covers for the Saturday Evening Post.
Author Christopher Finch gives a good short biography of Rockwell to start off the book, and from there the art essentially speaks for itself.
The book covers paintings done from 1919 to 1960, and does a great job of presenting the full scope of Rockwell's work. Most of Rockwell's best known pieces are included here, along with plenty of surprises (pirates, faeries, and even an ouija board).
The book's size does impose some limits. The paintings presented in this pocket edition are shrunk down to not much more than trading card size. But the shear number of works presented here is the main attraction to this collection.
I had visited the Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge and been impressed with his work (the museum itself is outstanding; I recommend a visit even if you're not a fan). I had always thought Rockwell's covers too twee, too comfortable, too sentimental - and he is all those things. But he's often more than that; and even when he isn't, the work is interesting in what it tells us about the audience, the media, even American attitudes.
The book rating loses marks because of the editorial that accompanies each picture. I know there are 332 covers and that's a lot of commentary, but sometimes the discussion that accompanies each picture is bland, repetitive and lacking in insight. That's a shame in such a beautifully produced book, for a significant artist and illustrator.
Although small, this book is a treasure! I picked it up after thoroughly enjoying the Norman Rockwell exhibit at BYU today. I love having a collection of Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers, and for 332 prints, I felt this was a great value. Our family will enjoy this book for years to come.
Definitive collection of every single one of the Saturday Post covers. Each print dominates a huge book page. The print is just the painting without the "Post" cover-stuff surrounding it. However, before each multi-year set of covers, there is a small pix of each actual Post cover with a description under the picture with some details. Fantastic book of prints!!
Beautiful oversize (12" x 15") book with the iconic 332 Magazine Covers. Page# . . Print Name . . Publication . . Date 49 . . Christmas (2 kids, one w/ axe, dog, xmas tree drag) . . Country Gentleman Cover . . December 18, 1920 50 . . Story of the Lost Battalion . . Literary Digest . . March 1, 1919 51 . . Planning the Home . . Literary Digest Cover . . May 8, 1920 52 . . First of the Month . . Literary Digest Cover . . February 26, 1921 53 . . Gone Fishing (guy w/ pipe on pier, dog laying down) . . Literary Digest Cover . . July 30, 1921 54 . . Grandpa and Children . . Literary Digest Cover . . December 24, 1921 55 . . The Old Couple . . Literary Digest Cover . . April 15, 1922 56 . . Mending the Flag . . Literary Digest Cover . . May 27, 1922 57 . . Settling an Argument . . Literary Digest Cover . . June 24, 1922 58 . . A Hopeless Case . . Literary Digest Cover . . January 13, 1923 59 . . Top of the World (boy twisted w/ tie) . . Ladies Home Jour. Cover . . April 1, 1928 60 . . Boy with Carriage . . Post Cover . . May 20, 1916 61 . . Circus Strongman . . Post Cover . . June 3, 1916 62 . . Gramps at the Plate . . Post Cover . . August 5, 1916 63 . . Redhead Loves Hatty . . Post Cover . . September 16, 1916 64 . . Picture Palace . . Post Cover . . October 14, 1916 65 . . Playing Santa . . Post Cover . . December 9, 1916 66 . . Shall We Dance? . . Post Cover . . January 13, 1917 67 . . Scout - Ready to Serve (Scout w/ girl and guy w/ medal, hat) . . Post Cover . . May 12, 1917 68 . . Scout - Recruiting Officer . . Post Cover . . June 12, 1917 69 . . Knowledge is Power . . Post Cover . . October 27, 1917 70 . . Pardon Me . . Post Cover . . January 26, 1918 71 . . Off-Duty Clown . . Post Cover . . May 18, 1918 72 . . The Haircut . . Post Cover . . August 10, 1918 73 . . Red Cross Volunteer . . Post Cover . . September 21, 1918 74 . . Reminiscing . . Post Cover . . January 18, 1919 75 . . Hero's Welcome (kid w/ pot on head leads soldier) . . Post Cover . . February 22, 1919 76 . . Courting at Midnight . . Post Cover . . March 22, 1919 77 . . Party Games . . Post Cover . . April 26, 1919 78 . . Valedictorian . . Post Cover . . June 15, 1919 79 . . Leapfrog . . Post Cover . . June 28, 1919 89 . . Stolen Clothes . . Post Cover . . August 9, 1919 90 . . Asleep on the Job (heavy kid) . . Post Cover . . September 6, 1919 91 . . Important Business (guy sneeking out to golf) . . Post Cover . . September 20, 1919 92 . . Stilt Walker . . Post Cover . . October 4, 1919 93 . . Gramps Encounters Gramps . . Post Cover . . December 20, 1919 94 . . Lover Letters . . Post Cover . . January 17, 1920 95 . . Skaters . . Post Cover . . February 7, 1920 96 . . Departing Servant . . Post Cover . . March 27, 1920 97 . . The Ouija Board . . Post Cover . . May 1, 1920 98 . . Traveling Companions (guy, dog, back marked Grand Hotel NYC) . . Post Cover . . May 15, 1920 99 . . A Dog's Day . . Post Cover . . June 19, 1920 100 . . The Open Road . . Post Cover . . July 31, 1920 101 . . Cave of the Winds . . Post Cover . . August 28, 1920 102 . . The Debate (guy/gal sit back-to-back, Cox, Harding) . . Post Cover . . October 9, 1920 103 . . Halloween . . Post Cover . . October 23, 1920 104 . . Santa (feather pen to lips, look up left, hold 'expense') . . Post Cover . . December 4, 1920 105 . . On the High Seas . . Post Cover . . January 29, 1921 106 . . A Night on the Town, Girl Reading Palm . . Post Cover . . March 12, 1921 107 . . No Swimming (3 boys running) . . Post Cover . . June 4, 1921 108 . . Watch the Birdie . . Post Cover . . July 9, 1921 109 . . Distorting Mirror . . Post Cover . . August 12, 1921 110 . . Sneezing Spy . . Post Cover . . October 1, 1921 111 . . Merrie Christmas (facial guy, tip cane to hat, w/ holly) . . Post Cover . . December 3, 1921 112 . . The Sphinx . . Post Cover . . January 14, 1922 113 . . Sorting Mail . . Post Cover . . February 18, 1922 114 . . Man Threading Needle . . Post Cover . . April 8, 1922 115 . . Champ, The Body Builder, Be a Man . . Post Cover . . April 29, 1922 116 . . Radio Listeners, The Wonders of Radio (pap headphones, gram behind) . . Post Cover . . May 20, 1922 117 . . Boy Gazing Out Window (puppy right outside) . . Post Cover . . June 10, 1922 118 . . Setting One's Sights (kid look thru sailor scope) . . Post Cover . . August 19, 1922 118 . . The Rivals . . Post Cover . . September 9, 1922 129 . . Cinderella . . Post Cover . . November 4, 1922 130 . . Santa's Helpers (Santa sleep, 8 little elves) . . Post Cover . . December 2, 1922 131 . . A Meeting of Minds . . Post Cover . . February 3, 1923 132 . . Bedside Manner (kid pouring med for dog) . . Post Cover . . March 10, 1923 133 . . The Virtuoso, The Violinist . . Post Cover . . April 28, 1923 134 . . Clown (w dog on a star ball, 2nd dog sit) . . Post Cover . . May 26, 1923 135 . . Vacation (Boy doing cartwheel) . . Post Cover . . June 23, 1923 136 . . Farmer and Birds . . Post Cover . . August 18, 1923 137 . . The Cruise (guy in blanket on deck of ship . . Post Cover . . September 8, 1923 138 . . The Age of Romance (Boy reading book, dreaming) . . Post Cover . . November 10, 1923 139 . . Carolers, Christmas…Sing Merrilie, Christmas Trio . . Post Cover . . December 8, 1923 140 . . The Sampler . . Post Cover . . March 1, 1924 141 . . Cupid's Message, Dreaming . . Post Cover . . April 5, 1924 142 . . The Model (girl on stool w/ hat talking to shopkeeper) . . Post Cover . . May 3, 1924 143 . . Adventure (guy at desk thinking about ship drawing) . . Post Cover . . June 7, 1924 144 . . Home (pirate w/ peg leg and gn in belt) . . Post Cover . . June 14, 1924 145 . . Speed (guy w/ goggles toing 14 mph 1904) . . Post Cover . . July 19, 1924 146 . . The Accordionist . . Post Cover . . August 30, 1924 147 . . Homecoming (guy kneeling to greet dog, suitcase) . . Post Cover . . September 27, 1924 148 . . Hobo (cooking 2 hot dogs) . . Post Cover . . October 18, 1924 149 . . Ceremonial Garb, Parade (2 small boys in red w/ man hold top hat and cigar) . . Post Cover . . November 8, 1924 150 . . Christmas (boy+dog carry wood to house, Santa write book) . . Post Cover . . December 6, 1924 151 . . Crossword Puzzle . . Post Cover . . January 31, 1925 152 . . Self-Portrait (kid w/ top hat, string to camera) . . Post Cover . . April 18, 1925 153 . . 122 . . Post Cover . . May 16, 1925 154 . . Begging (scottie near girl in red dress in chair) . . Post Cover . . June 27, 1925 155 . . Cigar Butt . . Post Cover . . July 11, 1925 156 . . Asleep on the Job (guy on trunk, sleeping chicken) . . Post Cover . . August 29, 1925 157 . . The Buggy Ride . . Post Cover . . September 19, 1925 158 . . Tackled . . Post Cover . . November 21, 1925 159 . . Merrie Christmas (guy on coach, kid sitting w/ present) . . Post Cover . . December 5, 1925 169 . . Soap Box Racer . . Post Cover . . January 9, 1926 170 . . Sign Painter (guy sitting on stool painting Ye Pipe and Bowl ) . . Post Cover . . February 6, 1926 171 . . Phrenologist (guy measuring someone's head) . . Post Cover . . March 27, 1926 172 . . Boy/Girl Gaze at Moon (Puppy Love), Sunset, Little Spooners . . Post Cover . . April 24, 1926 173 . . Ben Franklin Signing the Declaration of Independence . . Post Cover . . May 29, 1926 174 . . The Scholar . . Post Cover . . June 26, 1926 175 . . The Bookworm . . Post Cover . . August 14, 1926 176 . . Contentment . . Post Cover . . August 26, 1926 177 . . A Temporary Setback, In Need of Sympathy . . Post Cover . . October 2, 1926 178 . . Christmas (Santa w/ magnify glass at globe, "good boys") . . Post Cover . . December 4, 1926 179 . . Back to School, Boy holding Chalkboard . . Post Cover . . January 8, 1927 180 . . The Law Student (young man with apron sit on stool with book on barrel, pix of lincoln pinned to wall) . . Post Cover . . February 19, 1927 181 . . Second Reader, The Interloper . . Post Cover . . March 12, 1927 182 . . Springtime (boy playing flute, rabbit frog turtle dance) . . Post Cover . . April 16, 1927 183 . . The Artist (boy painting heart on back of girl's green coat) . . Post Cover . . June 4, 1927 184 . . Pioneer . . Post Cover . . July 23, 1927 185 . . Dreams of Long Ago . . Post Cover . . August 13, 1927 186 . . A New Hairstyle . . Post Cover . . September 24, 1927 187 . . Tea Time (old couple in front of fireplace) . . Post Cover . . October 22, 1927 188 . . Christmas (BIG santa holding tiny boy on fingers) . . Post Cover . . December 3, 1927 189 . . Uncle Sam Takes Wings . . Post Cover . . January 21, 1928 190 . . Adventurers (old man globe/young man at wheel) . . Post Cover . . April 14, 1928 191 . . Spring (girl in beret marching next to man w/ backpak) . . Post Cover . . May 5, 1928 192 . . Man Painting an Eagle on top of a Flagpole . . Post Cover . . May 26, 1928 193 . . Wedding March (guy at piano w/ wedding march music) . . Post Cover . . June 23, 1928 194 . . Artist and Critic, The Critic (man looking over girls' shoulder) . . Post Cover . . July 21, 1928 195 . . Fleeing Hobo (w/ pie, dog biting back of pants) . . Post Cover . . August 18, 1928 196 . . Serenade (boy on uke, w girl green dress, bust w/ hat) . . Post Cover . . September 22, 1928 197 . . Merrie Christmas (guy dance circle w/ girl green dress under mistletoe) . . Post Cover . . December 8, 1928 198 . . Gossips (3 women with heads together) . . Post Cover . . January 12, 1929 199 . . Dreams of Chivalry, The Age of Chivalry . . Post Cover . . February 16, 1929 209 . . Doctor and Doll . . Post Cover . . March 9, 1929 210 . . Speed Trap (Welcome to Elmville, stopwatch) . . Post Cover . . April 20, 1929 211 . . Twins (1 guy, 2 girls red dresses) . . Post Cover . . May 4, 1929 212 . . No Swimming (Girl holding 1 hand over closed eye) . . Post Cover . . June 15, 1929 213 . . Tourist (guy on donkey) . . Post Cover . . July 13, 1929 214 . . Fishing, (Grandfather Catch Fish w/ Boy, Straw Hats) . . Post Cover . . August 3, 1929 215 . . Making Friends (boy, mid white dog, pet Lassie "R" tag) . . Post Cover . . September 28, 1929 216 . . Jazz it Up (guy w/ viola case, looking at a sax) . . Post Cover . . November 2, 1929 217 . . Merrie Christmas (jolly guy w/ whip) . . Post Cover . . December 7, 1929 218 . . Stock Exchange Quotations . . Post Cover . . January 18, 1930 219 . . Nothing Up His Sleeves . . Post Cover . . March 22, 1930 220 . . April Showers, Wet Paint (girl w/ paint supplies run in rain) . . Post Cover . . April 12, 1930 221 . . Gary Cooper (as the Texan) . . Post Cover . . May 24, 1930 222 . . Gone Fishing (old guy sleeping in boat w/ many strings w/ bells) . . Post Cover . . July 19, 1930 223 . . Breakfast (guy at table w/ paper can't see wife) . . Post Cover . . August 23, 1930 224 . . Home From Vacation (dad, mom, boy sleep on chairs) . . Post Cover . . September 13, 1930 225 . . The Yarn Spinner . . Post Cover . . November 8, 1930 226 . . Christmas (guy n steel helmet in front of stained glass) . . Post Cover . . December 6, 1930 227 . . A New Hat . . Post Cover . . January 31, 1931 228 . . Fireman/Boy, Fire! . . Post Cover . . March 28, 1931 229 . . Busts (guy sitting holding 2 busts) . . Post Cover . . April 18, 1931 230 . . Studying, Cramming . . Post Cover . . June 13, 1931 231 . . The Milkmaid . . Post Cover . . July 25, 1931 232 . . Croquet . . Post Cover . . September 5, 1931 233 . . Sour Note (guy plays trumpet sitting on sack potatoes) . . Post Cover . . November 7, 1931 234 . . Merry Christmas (3 guys white wigs, violin, clarinet, cello) . . Post Cover . . December 12, 1931 235 . . Boulevard Haussmann . . Post Cover . . January 30, 1932 236 . . Puppet Maker . . Post Cover . . October 22, 1932 237 . . Merrie Christmas (guy with rt bskt goose, left bskt wine) . . Post Cover . . December 10, 1932 238 . . Springtime (boy hold hat w/ dog, has girl/wings whisper) . . Post Cover . . April 8, 1933 239 . . The Diary . . Post Cover . . June 17, 1933 249 . . Summertime, boy with girls surround, fishing . . Post Cover . . August 5, 1933 250 . . Going Out (girl looks in mirror, little girl behind) . . Post Cover . . October 21, 1933 251 . . Child Psychology . . Post Cover . . November 25, 1933 252 . . The Spirit of Education . . Post Cover . . April 21, 1934 253 . . Bargaining (woman in white holding lamp with older man) . . Post Cover . . May 19, 1934 254 . . Vacation (Boy flying on a mallard duck) . . Post Cover . . June 30, 1934 255 . . Starstruck (Red hair boy with dog, baseball mit, looking at 3 girl pix on floor) . . Post Cover . . September 22, 1934 256 . . Under Sail (Boy sitting on weather vane looks to sailboats) . . Post Cover . . October 20, 1934 257 . . Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit, God Bless Us Everyone . . Post Cover . . December 15, 1934 258 . . Billboard Painter . . Post Cover . . February 9, 1935 259 . . The Partygoers . . Post Cover . . March 9, 1935 260 . . Springtime (Boy bent over talking to a rabbit) . . Post Cover . . April 27, 1935 261 . . Couple in Rumbleseat . . Post Cover . . July 13, 1935 262 . . Schooldays (older teacher leaning over, mom take hand, grumpy child) . . Post Cover . . September 14, 1935 263 . . A Walk in the Country (guy, pipe, cane under arm, dog) . . Post Cover . . November 16, 1935 264 . . The Gift (kid digs in gramps picket, puppy in other) . . Post Cover . . January 25, 1936 265 . . Movie Star (6 guys around girl in white) . . Post Cover . . March 7, 1936 266 . . Springtime (girl put flower into a scarecrow) . . Post Cover . . April 25, 1936 267 . . The Spring Tonic, Medicine . . Post Cover . . May 30, 1936 268 . . Young Love (Boy on top of rock sitting w girl holding yellow hat) . . Post Cover . . July 11, 1936 269 . . Barbershop Quartet . . Post Cover . . September 26, 1936 270 . . The Tantrum, The Nanny . . Post Cover . . October 24, 1936 271 . . Park Bench (guy w/ book & dog eyes guy/girl behind) . . Post Cover . . November 21, 1936 272 . . Mistletoe (guy red cape holds mistletoe above girl) . . Post Cover . . December 19, 1936 273 . . The Cold (girl in bed, hankies, med, "dance" paper) . . Post Cover . . January 23, 1937 274 . . The Ticket Agent . . Post Cover . . April 24, 1937 275 . . Dolores and Eddie (sitting on 'gaiety dance team' trunk) . . Post Cover . . June 12, 1937 276 . . The Antique Hunter . . Post Cover . . July 31, 1937 277 . . The Chase (dog chase cat guy paint white line . . Post Cover . . October 2, 1937 278 . . Christmas (Guy/Gramps in snow, head thru wreath, umbrella stuck) . . Post Cover . . December 25, 1937 279 . . Dreamboats (2 girls on bed looking at guy pixs) . . Post Cover . . February 19, 1938 289 . . See America First (forelorne indian) . . Post Cover . . 4/23/1838 290 . . Airplane Trip, First Flight . . Post Cover . . June 4, 1938 291 . . Artist Face with a Blank Canvas . . Post Cover . . October 8, 1938 292 . . The Letterman (is this guy kneeling in football jersey as girl sews letter) . . Post Cover . . November 19, 1938 293 . . Merrie Christmas, guy folded hands, goose/wine left bskt) . . Post Cover . . De
This is an excellent selection of Rockwell's magazine covers that is marred by poor reproductions. Much of the author's analysis simply makes no sense since you cannot see what he is talking about in the images. Rockwell deserves a better book.
A must-have book for fans (serious or casual) of one of the greatest commercial illustrators of the 20th century. First published in 1994, this large format edition appears to have been updated in 2013, but is now inexplicably out of print. Worth seeking out, as a more recent version is much smaller and frankly, pointless. I would love to see a revised edition with some SLIGHT improvements in the digital scanning (the technology is of course light years better now) but that may not be commercially feasible.
I took my two kids to see the Norman Rockwell exhibit last week and wanted to read this book to see some of the things we missed; what didn't get into the traveling exhibit. It was fun to read the text of different works, to hear someone else's thoughts. It was also interesting to see the contrast of the work in print with the same work in real life. I wish I didn't have to return this book to the library, and not just because it weighs a ton.
While the illustrations themselves are great (this is Rockwell after all) the quality of the prints is very hit and miss. Some are blurry, others have weird white streaks, some are faded while others have certain colors like black and skin colors so over saturated that they lose detail clearly seen in other digital versions of the illustrations. Other colors are real muddy. Real pity, especially considering the price of this album.
Only one major downfall- each illustration doesn't have the surrounding image. They made the backgrounds all white. However, if you look at the image in another book, online, or in person, there is a surrounding image, or at least the "Post" logo surrounding it. By taking the background out, it is not showing the full image. In this, I was disappointed.
This book covers about 60 years worth of covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Norman Rockwell was an extraordinary artist. Some will quibble and call him an illustrator, but as a friend of mine once said, you know the difference between an artist and an illustrator? The illustrator really has to know how to draw.
Although Norman Rockwell was technically an academic painter, he had the eye of a photographer, and as he became a mature artist, he used this eye to give us a picture of America that was familiar—astonishingly so—and at the same time, unique. Rockwell best expressed this vision of America in his justly famous cover illustrations for magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post. 332 of these cover paintings, from beloved classics like "Marbles Champion" to lesser-known gems like "Feeding Time," are reproduced in stunning full color in this large-format volume, which is sure to be treasured by art lovers everywhere.
Amazing paintings! I showed my mom and she thought some of them were actual photographs, such great attention to detail. I adore the ones with kids doing cute little acts. I think my favorite from the paintings in this book is "the Gossips". The facial expressions are spot on! I wish I could paint like that!