For today's Art Sunday I thought I'd highlight 4 of Norman Rockwell's prints - The Freedom Series. All were originally story illustrations in The Saturday Evening Post in 1943. The first is Freedom from Fear which was from the March 13, 1943 Edition.
All of these can be seen at The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Freedom of Speech originally an illustration from The Saturday Evening Post February 20, 1943. In 2004 this series was part of an exhibition called Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms: Paintings That Inspired a Nation and was displayed at The Corcoran Museum in Washington DC.
This painting is titled Freedom from Want and was originally a story illustration from The Saturday Evening Post March 16, 1943. *****
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During the height of World War II, Norman Rockwell painted four of the most powerful and enduring images in American history. Like many artists and writers, he supported the war effort by creating work inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s January 1941 State of the Union address outlining his four basic human liberties: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Unlike his peers, however, Rockwell did not receive a government commission to interpret Roosevelt’s words. Instead, the Saturday Evening Post paid the Vermont artist to create the paintings for reproduction in that enormously popular weekly magazine. The four commanding images achieved the instant and widespread recognition government officials could only hope for: in four weeks during the spring of 1943 they reached millions of American living rooms through the pages of the Post.
Freedom to Worship originally a story illustration from The Saturday Evening Post February 27, 1943.*****
For today's Art Sunday I say we honor our freedoms and the persons who lost their lives so that we may have them.
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"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value. " ~~ Cicero
4 comments:
Good morning, Steph, thanks for being with Art Sunday again. Rockwell's prints are very interesting and old Cicero couldn't be more right, freedom really is of inestimable value.
Have a wonderful day, it's good to have you back at Multiply. Hugs.
These are so beautiful, they encapsulate not just a time, but a feeling too. I love them.
Lina, I chose that series for Veteran's Day here in the US (and comparable days in other countries) due to the era they in which they were painted. They're definitely not my favorite Rockwell's esthetically speaking but I loved the message. Next week I'll do Art Sunday over on Multiply probably. LOVED the Cicero quote :)
Fran yes they do capture a feeling as well as a time. I thought they were appropriate for that Sunday --- be prepared for the more favored Rockwell snow scenes upon our first snowfall ;)
Great Art Sunday post and maybe that much nicer since it is Thursday. Nice to have art all week long.
I remember Norman Rockwell from my childhood. And Life and Saturday Evening Post magazines. Nice memories they brought back. Thanks for the post here on Blogger.
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