Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell (1894-1978)

“Rockwell is terrific. It’s become too tedious to pretend he isn’t.” — New Yorker art critic Peter Schjeldahl With a warmth and humor unique to him, Norman Rockwell became one of Americans most loved and recognized artists. Rockwell left high school at the age of 14 to attend the National Academy of Design and later studied at the Art Students League in New York. He began doing illustrations for St. Nichols and other minor magazines. His first illustration for The Saturday Evening Post appeared in 1916. The cover of the Post became his showcase for forty-seven years, eventually publishing 321 of his illustrations. Along with his renowned work for the Post, Rockwell illustrated stories, advertising campaigns, posters, calendars and books. As evidence of his national and international acclaim, Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson, as well as Nassar of Egypt and Nehru of India sat for him for portraits. In his later years, Rockwell gained recognition as painter by focusing on more serious issues, by doing a series on racism and integration.