He was born on February 3, 1894, in New York City and started his career in 1912 when he illustrated a brochure for an American Scouting magazine "Boys' Life" until 1915. He also worked with advertising agencies which was more lucrative, though he confessed to preferring the freedom of magazine illustration.
Rockwell gained national fame when The Saturday Evening Post, the magazine with the highest circulation in the country, published on the cover of the May 20, 1916 issue, one of his illustrations, "Boy with Baby Carriage", where we saw a young, well-dressed boy pushing a baby carriage under the mockery of his friends going to play baseball. 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. His favorite themes were: First loves, Infancy and Family life, Departures and Returns home, Childhood and Old-age, and the Holidays, earned him public favor.
From 1919 to 1943, each year Rockwell illustrated a Christmas cover for the Post.
As his personal contribution during World War II, Rockwell painted the famous "Four Freedoms" posters, symbolizing
for millions the war aims as described by President Franklin Roosevelt. One version of his "Freedom of Speech" painting is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson sat for him for portraits, and he painted other world figures, including Nassar of Egypt and Nehru of India.
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.
In 1957 the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington cited him as a Great Living American, saying that..."Through the magic of your talent, the folks next door - their gentle sorrows, their modest joys - have enriched our own lives and given us new insight into our countrymen."
His last cover for The Saturday Evening Post, presented John F. Kennedy. It was published in 1963, December 14, one month after the President was murdered. New editorial politics considered the pictures and ideas expressed by the painter were outdated and the Post ended his 47 years' contribution of 420 covers.
Rockwell was 70 years when he started new contributions to important magazines like "Look" or "McCall's". He painted his last cover in 1976, for the Independence Bicentennial. That same year, the town of Stockbridge organized the longest procession of its history in his honor. One year later, he received the Medal of Freedom.
"Cave of the Wind"
"Vacation"
"Meeting of the Minds"
"Buggy Ride"
"1920"
"1920"
"1923"
"1923"
"Sunset"
"No Swimming"
"Home from Vacation"
"Psychology"
"1926"
"1929"
"1930"
"1933"
"Rumble Seat"
"Marbles Champ"
"Swimming Hole"
"Curiosity Shop"
"1935"
"1939"
"1945"
"1948"
"Check Up"
"Runaway"
"The Saturday Evening Post"
"The Check Up"
"1957"
"1958"
"1916"
"Date unknown"
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Created: January 10, 2000 ... Last update: July 14, 2000
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