Norman Rockwell 1894 – 1978
Posted by Pellora in Lifestyle, Memory Lane, Relaxed Politics
Until today I didn’t know much about Norman Rockwell. I grew up knowing his art, and would recognize it anytime. But I knew little about him or his art as technique. NPR did a nice lengthy story on him and his work and his technique.
As explained in the story, Rockwell was a very good photographer, and he used that talent to set up his paintings. They now have a collection of his photographs by way of one of his assistants.
Rockwell used photos, taken by a rotating cast of photographers, to make his illustrations — and all of his models were neighbors and friends, including that little boy! Rockwell never kept it a secret, but for some reason this little fact has been neglected in recent decades. Although he may not have clicked the shutter, Rockwell directed every facet of every composition.
The author of the NPR story, Claire O’Neill, had to get in touch with one of the photographers that worked for Rockwell. In doing so, she uncovered much more about him and his art.
To Kalischer, the American mainstream has misunderstood Rockwell. “There is a difference between advertising and art,” he wrote in an e-mail. “Good artists have total control over their work and express their own vision, while searching for truth.” And, Kalischer repeatedly emphasizes, Rockwell never considered himself an artist, but rather a commercial illustrator. An artist-photographer himself, Kalischer was at odds with the tracing techniques and saccharine subject matter in Rockwell’s work. After all, Rockwell never painted freehand, and almost all of his paintings were commissioned by magazines and advertising companies.
For years, Rockwell has been dismissed as kitschy and cliched. But lately, critics and collectors alike have reconsidered his work. Directors George Lucas and Steven Spielberg will contribute their Rockwell pieces to a Smithsonian exhibit next year, and one Rockwell painting recently sold for $15 million. Rockwell’s rosy America and literalist technique might polarize opinions, but there’s no denying the permanence and influence of his vision. And at least now, homage can be paid to the photographers who made that vision a reality.
There is a nice slide show embedded in the story, and some other photos, and a nice conversation with one of his photographer assistants. It’s definitely worth the read. The Norman Rockwell Museum is in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. They are preparing to put their land museum on line by the end of the year. And there’s a new book out on Rockwell, Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera by Ron Schick.
Funny how we all know Rockwell, know his paintings, but we really know so little about him. He was household art – glad he’s getting some more recognition for his wonderful and warm work.
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One of my favorite jigsaw puzzles is a Rockwell painting of Stockbridge. We put it together every couple of years.
We’ve got a thunderstorm about to hit us. It seems to have just appeared out of nowhere. I heard the wind and came in here to see if the front had come through and there was a big warning flashing. Of course right after that Beulah started hearing it and is hiding under the desk. Unfortunately for her I need to go back in the other room and wrap.
NAFG – I’ve always wondered about the lack of common sense that *should* tell you to slow down in inclement weather.
I don’t much care so long as they don’t take me out with themselves. Having the poopy drivers in the ditch is better than on the road more often than not – a lot safer for you and me. 
I grew up seeing Norman Rockwell’s art on posters, magazine covers, all over. Never knew how he did it until reading about him.
I like this one.
@ Pellora:
Actually, a lot of famous artists used photographs and other image transfer techniques. All the way back to the Renaissance the Camera Obscura was used to get more realistic images on canvas and paper. I saw an exhibit on this issue years ago. It was a real eye opener. I used to think that was cheating, but looking at the masters who used drawing aids and devices has helped me overcome that.
Good night bumz. See ya tomorrow.
i think the latest issue of Smithsonian had a great article/book review on Norman Rockwell. Loved the comparison of photos and art.
g’night, Betsy! sleep well!
@ Texas Betsy:
Sleep well. 
It looks like the T-storm petered out, but there is another line heading toward us from the west, so I imagine we will have a Beulah girl in bed with us tonight.
I got all of Gnomette’s presents wrapped. Now I am working on Mr. Gnome’s. He just got the last batch of cookies out of the oven, so we might be able to go to bed soon.
g’night Betsy. Sweet pain free dreams!
@ freckles cassie:
I do too! I like very many of his paintings. But only chose one. Thought maybe we’d like to see what Norman looked like!
But the Santa one is appropriate for the time.
See you off and on during the day.
g’night Gnome.
I’m going to go read and sleep too.
Morning bumz! I can’t seem to sleep in no matter what!! Of course the big kid was already up, watching cartoons. Every morning he lets me know that there are a few more presents under the tree. Wonder how they got there??? It is going to be very hard for him to make it past 5 am tomorrow morning, I’m thinking
Gnome it is quite windy here this morning, and the forcast is high winds and tunderstorms
I really need madhubby to get the kiddies out of my hair long enough to move things out of the attic in preparations for tonight. Only problem with that is where to stash them in the meantime.
I read the Smithsonian article about Rockwell, very interesting. I especially like the self-portrait you used. The two different perspectives make it quite interesting. Rockwell’s been dissed in the hoity-toity art world for decades and is only now being appreciated for the depth and subtlety of his work. Sure it’s kinda smaltzy, but it’s also very approachable art that nearly everyone can recognize and appreciate.
FWIW, the Senate passed the HCR this morning with a vote of 60-39. Wonder who didn’t vote? Maybe those whacked-out wingers prayed another gooper into missing the vote by mistake
g’morning Bumz
mm, i hear ya! i remember those tear-the-hair-out pre-christmas logistics from when my kids were little. I gladly pass the mantle on to you and my daughters
ok. more coffee, then time to wrap a few presents and make a few cookies.
The kids are climbing. the. walls. It’s not even noon
The yard is a giant mudhole, it’s windy and off-and-on raining 
I am seriously considering duct taping them to the closet door, except for those pesky child services people 
@ newdealfarmgrrrlll:
And to you, dear friend, I say
also 
and 
Rockwell had a sense of humor, and sometimes, if you look really carefully, you see a hint of subversiveness.
BTW, if all the doom and gloom predictions about HCR are giving you anxiety, this will calm you down.
@ madmommy:
It’s Jim Bunning, and apparently no one knows where he is (hiking that ol’ Appalachian trail? Or maybe in Mitch McConnell’s freezer??).
Damn! Diana Krall can swing! And what a tasty horn arrangement!
during last night’s not-fun drive to the drugstore, i counted three cars-off-the-road situations, two of them were multiple-car incidents. Here’s a quote from WCCO news re snow yesterday evening, “The State Patrol reported 388 vehicles had skidded off the road, 174 of those within the nine-county Twin Cities metro area.”
idjits. Of course, when you hit bad ice, even if you’re driving sensibly, accidents happen. But I bet most of those 388 incidents were too-fast-for-conditions. 
ZOMG!! A front pager at the Great Orange Satan has fired a shot across the bow of the good ship Hamsher. Let the flamewars begin!! And just in time for Christmas
@ gordon:
Hmmm…No one knows where he is, eh? Maybe those prayers did riccochet! Diana Krall is the shizzle, is Canadian, and married to Elvis Costello. A freaking trifecta of awesomeness!!
Happy gnomette’s birthday! It is windy as all get out here, too, mm. But it is sunny and cold. It looks like we got some good rain during the night. We’ve got to clean up the house before heading to Austin for a birthday/ Xmas eve party then back here for birthday with the parents/grandparents. Somewhere in there I have finish wrapping and make my Xmas morning casserole, which sounds a bit like sharonlee’s.
i’m gonna have to agree to disagree here … can’t get with the Diana Krall love-fest. Her voice has an unpleasant rasp that gets on my last nerve. I always have the local jazz station on the radio in my car … whenever i grit my teeth and endure a song rather that turning off the radio, the announcer almost always says “and that was Diana Krall …”
My SIL just called. She’s in Dallas with her son and grandson. She said it is snowing there and is all excited about White Christmas possibilities.
@ Gnome de Plume:
Typical cat-doling out the affection in order to get what he really wants! You are but his lowly minion
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Wait till you hear what I am getting for Christmas!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t tell you yet, but it might even be cooler than if the Princeton letter comes.
I think that the HCR passing is a good thing. Sure, there are issues, but I like our prospects. And the repugnants are saying they want to use this in 2010 and 2012 – I say go right on and do that! We’ll hang the rock of obstructionism no ideas no plans right around their chinless necks and watch ‘em sink into oblivion.
Bunning missing, huh? Never did hear who went missing. And it’s funny every time I read *party line vote with unanimous repugnant no votes* So, what part about 39 not being 40 is not obvious? Idjits.
NAFG – I know all about the idjits driving too fast for conditions. I say let them all end up in ditches, keeps them off the roads for a good while and makes our travels safer!
Snow in Dallas common enough? Or will there be photos like the ones Betsy posted of the *snow* at her school?
Hoping that Lea and Family are driving safely to NM. This weather not helping them much.
Thanks MM for your linkie to the shot across the bow that is the ship of Hamsher and her groupies – they have been seduced by Evil. Evil is tricksie – it convinces you that what you believe in is correct and good, but after all, it is the end result that is Evil. Evil uses blinders quite effectively. I just don’t get how anyone would think that working with the likes of Norquist could be a good thing, when that means attacking your own Left Progressive People. Don’t think she’s stoopid, but ….. a little bit
and full of her own voice and ego. She thinks she’s better’n sliced bread. For me, not so much. Oh, and DKos v. FDL ought to be quite a cage match. 
shit will be hitting the fan and flying all over. Better duck quick!
Thanks Gordon for the linkie to Josh’s reasoned essay.
Sunny, not warm, decent 29 with no wind. Very cold nights, around 8 or so. All the messy weather is heading to some of your neighborhoods. I hope you all do well. Stay warm and dry.
And again, I hope the repugnants who thought that delaying HCR bill to the very last minute have horrible trips home, and that fellow passengers tell them a piece or two of what they think of them. The repugnants still think the people are with them and against HCR. I hope by the time they get back to DC, to work on the bill some more, that they have a clearer idea of what The People really want. Which is not obstructionism or repugnant *go screw yourself* attitude.
Hi Gus. Maggie watching birds on feeder, so she’s otherwise occupied!
@ freckles cassie:
Love Kidlet excitement!!!!! Makes my day!
Maybe you’ll get the Princeton letter TOO !!!!
This ABC story says that it was Oklahoma repugnant Inhofe that *went home to be with his family* early I remember hearing that he *was taking him wife home but that he would come back to DC to vote and participate*
But this Las Vegas Sun story one says it is Kentucky repugnant who missed the votes.
And the Sun wins for accuracy – Senate.gov says Bunning didn’t vote.
@ freckles cassie:
Something really good 
I’m done cleaning. Amazing how much dirt sugary floors can attract!
Got all presents wrapped but my parents, and I won’t need those until tomorrow afternoon. So I can go clean myself up! 
Don’t wrap your parents Gnome! Unless they’re bouncing off the walls like madkiddies on Christmas Eve.
I’m in and out today.
Do we want a health care post? Or a Christmas post? Or something else entirely?
I wrote this earlier, but my Internet toobz clogged and I had to reboot. While I was downstairs I made the casserole.
I am about to begin the frantic day of cooking. First on the list is the breakfast casserole. Once assembled, it goes into the refrigerator until tomorrow morning. Then comes the cinnamon rolls. I just hope the bread dough is thawing properly. Scrambled eggs I will do tomorrow morning (I have a few people who don’t do meat such as in the casserole, so I am pampering them).
Weather forecast is not good, but I am being an optimist and hope the weather people are wrong once again.
I don’t like driving in bad stuff, but don’t want to miss the family gathering tonight.
Health insurance reform has cleared the Senate. As for Bunning missing the vote, if I were a Republican and knowing that the Republicans were voting no and my vote wasn’t going to count anyway, I would be tempted to chuck it in and go home for the holidays. Especially if the party were treating me as they have been Bunning.
MM, are you close to the point that your big kid could help with the wrapping and hiding of the gifts for everyone except him? That can relieve a lot of work.
On topic, I grew up with Norman Rockwell covers on the Saturday Evening Post. I clipped out of a magazine his rendition of a newspaper office. One of my brothers saw it when here on a visit and then discovered a print on oil of it at a flea market. It is now framed and hangs in my office. Almost anyone can find at least one Rockwell which taps into their life.
Cassie, excitement seems to be building. Anxious to hear your news. And you seem to have worked out a good way of dealing with your little sister.
Now back to cleaning. I have decided to make the cinnamon rolls when I get home tonight.
@ Texas Betsy:
That’s what I get for writing too quickly!
GnomeSis called this morning while lolling about in bed. She had sent the Gniece and Gnephew over to a neighbor’s to retrieve presents stashed over there. She was enjoying the quiet. But then they returned. Of course it is a day of chaos there. Too much excitement and too much sugar. Their first project was to ice the cookies they made yesterday.
I hope Cassie gets the pony of her dreams for Christmas.
Off to find
That’s cold for us!
shoesboots and socks and vest. I will prolly wear my 25 year old cashmere winter coat today. I usually only get to wear it Boston, but it is so windy today the windchill is 37.Tea Bagger won’t celebrate Xmas after Senate vote.
The only blog left in my RSS feed that engages in, er, movement progressivism is C&L. John Amato is (or at least at one time was) very good friends with Jane. So I’ve been watching them fairly carefully. They have eased off on the stridency in the last week or so, and today they actually celebrated the Senate passing the bill.
Going on Fox? Teaming up with Norquist? It’s like watching what happened to noquarterusa (home of the rabid PUMAs).
Texas Betsy wrote:
Does it matter? We go OT and talk about what we want no matter the post!
@ gnome de plume:
Gnome hits it pretty squarely.
I have been hearing sleet hitting my windows. Hope it ends soon and just become a snow dusting.
gordon wrote:
Saw all that too! And I have refrained from mentioning what I saw happen and still is happening over at Johnson’s place. It got horrible and really nasty. Last time I checked, they were still that way.
As to C&L, I noticed the stridency so don’t check often like I used to.
gnome de plume wrote:
Now really. Usually we give at least one comment to the subject matter before going
into the 
of our lives. 
for madkiddies and NDFGrandson and Leakiddies:
Cute new smiley animated gifs
It is almost noon here.
So I will have some eggnog with kahlua now! And the real reason is that I need the little bottle (that had a little bit of homemade Kahlua in it left from last year) for some of this year’s homemade Irish Cream 
But it will be 
when I get some! Same friend, just this year she ventured into Irish Cream world from her usual Kahlua world.
more animated pix — just for fun
Just talked to one of my sisters. Her son and his family got in this morning after a mechanical delay of the plane. The airline but on a special flight this morning to accommodate the group stranded overnight in Denver.
The 5 year old remembers everything about his grandmother’s house. He has already had her jumping, meeting his calls for the various Fisher-Price toys there. For his birthday, he got a bat cave but couldn’t take it to India. Now he is playing with that and lots of others.
@ freckles cassie:
pretty please with a cherry on top? (the codes can be emailed, yes? )
I would like to pilfer a couple of the smileys, but I can’t get the codes