November 20, 2005 9:43 PM
Family-Friendly Art - Norman Rockwell
As a former radical leftist, I am grateful to have been relieved of the lens of cynicism and scorn through which I used to see the world. It was truly quite a burden – our striving for sophistication built on embracing the dark and depraved while rejecting anything which appealed to our higher nature - especially American optimism.
A case in point is the world of art, which has for decades been dominated by the ridiculous and anti-social - nothing really of benefit to everyday people. Now that I’ve been liberated from leftist conformity, I’m free to be an everyday person, free to appreciate art which speaks of faith, hope and charity.
Among the "hokey" artists savaged by the counterculture was an American icon named Norman Rockwell. Ever since Angela H. commented the other day about researching the Thanksgiving picture I posted, Freedom From Want, I’ve been anxious to share more about him. As Angela H. discovered through her research, Rockwell painted four pictures In 1942 to illustrate a speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the "Four Freedoms" everyone should have:
Freedom From Fear
Freedom From Want
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Worship
Rockwell was an unusually prolific artist who over the years painted 4000 works, including 317 covers for The Saturday Evening Post. One of my favorites is Saying Grace:
His pictures told stories covering a range of emotions - from the hilarious Going and Coming:
to the somber The Problem We All Live With
Among Rockwell's works you will find many of familiar childhood situations, like getting a shot, sneaking a peek at sister's wedding gown, playing baseball. There is much to entertain and inspire your kids - and you as well. You can order posters of many Rockwell paintings at the Norman Rockwell Museum or at AllPosters. (Besides being a supporter of this site, AllPosters does a great job laminating, drymounting or framing posters - I've always been happy with pictures I've received from them.)
Rockwell once wrote: "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." This is what is wonderful about bringing art reproductions into your home - you are opening up the gates of the imagination to your children and you are free to wander through with them: "Why are the men staring at the people saying grace?" " What do you think they will say to each other?"
I'm so happy to be sharing this! As a young girl I thought that museums and concerts and plays were places you went only on school field trips – compartmentalized culture. Later as a parent I realized I’d rather be the one to introduce my kids to these rich experiences - so that these memories will be tied to their family, not to school days only.
So even as I’m finishing up Thanksgiving thoughts and then moving on to Christmas ideas Friday, I will be posting here and there more thoughts on the benefits of introducing the arts into your family culture - as early as possible.
Comments
Oh, that brings back such great memories of this wonderful coffee table type book of Rockwell's art that lived on a low shelf at my parent's home. I remember spending a lot of time over the years poring over the pictures and then reading the accompaning text once I was old enough to comprehend it.
I've started putting together a library of books like that for my house, but Rockwell was an artist I hadn't thought of yet. I'll have to keep my eyes open for something like that (or perhaps I'll have to ask my mom if she would hand down her book!)
Posted by: Amber | November 20, 2005 11:38 PM
"Later as a parent I realized I’d rather be the one to introduce my kids to these rich experiences - so that these memories will be tied to their family, not to school days only."
YES! YES! YES! exactly! you get me so excited Barbara, lol! my children are still wee little toddlers, so a few years off before i can take them to plays and shows, but I am so excited and can't wait to enjoy this with them. I went to one ballet performance in college, otherwise i am "un cultured", i will be learning alongside them and I feel so blessed with the opportunity! This is what i Love about your site! the great ideas from all angles about all subjects, and the encouragement of teaching my children and bringing these things to them myself, from tiny toddlers on up!
By the way, my hubby LOVES Norman Rockwell. His grandmother had given him a few tiny 5x7 prints of paintings when he was a boy and ever since then has been a Rockwell fan. I am thrilled at the idea of ordering some Rockwell art from allposters.com and surprising him with a piece on the wall lol! allposters.com laminates for you? I didn't know this....does it cost much extra?
~kristy
Posted by: Kristy | November 21, 2005 3:50 AM
I asked for "The Gossips" poster for Christmas! : )
We just recently fulfilled a longtime dream to visit his studio and museum in Massachusetts, and it did not disappoint. NR has been my favorite precisely because he so unabashedly presents the human heart in a kind way. When I was a child, lived across the street from the town library, and checked-out and re-checked a volume of Tom Sawyer illustrated by NR. Have never seen one since, though have searched Ebay and Alibris and ...
We also had a large collection of NR puzzles. Those are great for kids and parents to work together.
Posted by: floorplan | November 21, 2005 6:59 AM
and, thanks Barbara, for this post. You are an excellent teacher.
Posted by: floorplan | November 21, 2005 7:04 AM
You have put the truth into words! Re: your comments on the burden of liberal "sophistication" when it comes to art.
Norman Rockwell's "The Connoisseur" shows a dapper gentleman studying a Jackson Pollock splashes-of-paint canvas. One wag wrote: "NR can paint Jackson Pollock, but can JP paint Norman Rockwell?" Just take a kid to a modern art exhibit. They will gravitate to the historical, realistic art every time!
Posted by: floorplan | November 21, 2005 7:10 AM
Amber, your comment really makes the point that having art books around makes a big impression on children. We started collecting them when our children were little, and I always have a selection on our coffee table (do we still call them coffee tables :)?). You can pick them up at second hand stores or garage sales - or find cheap used copies at amazon. As I posted "Norman Rockwell's America" in Barbara's Picks today, I noticed the used copies started at $4.75. And if you're on a tighter budget, then pick out a few at the local library each time you visit.
Kristy, I love your enthusiasm. I was in the same boat as a young mother, which you can read in the blog I just posted - "Head Start on the Arts." It's been a big adventure discovering this rich world with my kids. We are planning a trip to the DC museums Wednesday with my big boys who are home from college this week!
Deb, thanks for your comments. I'm on my way to look up "The Connoisseur" now, but I can see it in my mind's eye. How did we ever get to the point where we denigrated people with amazing talent for capturing the heart and soul in favor of tortured people wielding housepainter brushes?
Posted by: barbaracurtis | November 21, 2005 9:05 AM
I have learned a lot from your blog about making a house a rich learning environment for children, while previously I had thought that my house should be decorated for MY and my fellow adults pleasure, which meant everything matching and according to my own tastes. I thought it was perfectly acceptable to allow my children only one room of the house but am slowly changing my opinion on all of that thanks to your posts on this subject.
Posted by: paigeu | November 21, 2005 1:08 PM
I heard a guy interviewed on NPR who lives in the town Rockwell lived and painted in. (I think he was actually on to talk about a new Cooks Illustrated cookbook.) Rockwell used a lot of the townspeople for his models in those paintings. That makes them even more interesting to me. Those people recognized themselves and their friends.
I went through a Rockwell phase when I was growing up. We subscribed to the Saturday Evening Post, which used him a lot on its covers.
His work does give you a feeling that "God's in His heaven, and all's right with the world."
Posted by: Julana | November 21, 2005 3:55 PM
