Norman Rockwell Biography

Norman Rockwell      
(1894-1978)
Perhaps the most recognizable illustrator of the 20th century, Rockwell's portraits of American life appeared on 322 Saturday Evening Post covers, in myriad other publications, and for a wide variety of advertisements. Three presidents sat for Rockwell portraits, as did other prominent world leaders. His work was so beloved by the populace that Rockwell himself became as much of a celebrity as those he immortalized upon his canvas.

The name Norman Rockwell is practically synonymous with Americana. His paintings and illustrations are known and loved the world-over for their humorous look at every day life in America in the early part of 20th century. He was best know as a master of fine detail, painting covers for American magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post, the Ladies Home Journal, and Look.

The cover of The Saturday Evening Post was his showcase for over forty years, giving him an audience larger than that of any other artist in history.  Over the years he depicted there a unique collection of Americana,, a series of vignettes of remarkable warmth and humor.  In addition, he painted a great number of pictures for story illustrations, advertising campaigns, posters, calendars, and books.

Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom From Want, Freedom From Fear — remain some of history’s most iconic visual representations of the American idea. But they were always more aspiration than reality.    “[Rockwell] was one of the people who really shaped the iconography of America and our visual culture,”

Normal Rockwell Mueum   NRM.org    and RockwellFourFreedoms.Org