Norman Rockwell
Tender Years: Moth Holes by Norman Rockwell
1957

Name: Tender Years: Moth Holes by Norman Rockwell
Brand: Norman Rockwell
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)

$885,000

£669,141.72

€783,421.74

CA$1,259,135.61

A$1,280,770.62

CHF 735,031.60

MX$15,396,365.44

NOK 8,574,115.41

SEK 8,654,833.04

DKK 5,856,789.82

About the Item

Norman Rockwell 1894-1978 American Tender Years: Moth Holes Signed "Norman Rockwell" (lower right) Oil on canvas From Norman Rockwell's acclaimed Four Seasons calendar series for Brown & Bigelow, Tender Years: Moth Holes represents the artist's masterful exploration of mature American relationships and his unparalleled ability to transform ordinary domestic moments into profound artistic narratives. This 1957 painting displays Rockwell's sentimental commitment to celebrating the "charms and comforts of maturity" during an era obsessed with youth. The composition presents a couple discovering the unfortunate fate of their stored seasonal clothing, with the husband displaying his moth-riddled red long underwear while his wife examines the damage with resigned familiarity. Rockwell's meticulous attention to detail manifests in every element: the weathered wooden trunk with its brass fittings, the scattered moths dancing above the scene, the couple's expressive faces and the comfortable acceptance that comes with decades of shared domestic trials. The careful rendering of textures—from the soft wool of the sweaters to the worn leather of the trunk—demonstrates Rockwell's technical virtuosity at every turn. Norman Rockwell stands as America's most beloved illustrator, whose work transcended commercial art to become a defining visual narrative of 20th-century American life. His Brown & Bigelow calendar series (1948-1964) ranks alongside his Saturday Evening Post covers as works that elevated him from celebrated illustrator to national institution. Rockwell's extraordinary ability to find profound meaning in everyday moments earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, the highest civilian honor bestowed upon American citizens. His art, characterized by meticulous detail and emotional depth, captures the essence of the American spirit with an authenticity that continues to resonate across generations. Museums worldwide, including the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, preserve and celebrate his legacy as an artist who documented American values, aspirations and the tender moments that unite us all. Painted 1957 Canvas: 17 1/2" high x 17 1/2" wide (44.45 x 44.45 cm) Frame: 26 1/8" high x 26 1/8" wide (66.36 x 66.36 cm) Provenance: Judy Goffman Fine Art, New York Illustration House, New York Private collection, Florida M.S. Rau, New Orleans Literature: Laurie Norton Moffatt, Norman Rockwell: A Definitive Catalogue, vol. I, Stockbridge, 1986, no. A151, p. 353, illustrated in color

Creator:
Norman Rockwell (1894 - 1978, American)
Creation Year:
1957
Dimensions:
Height: 26.13 in (66.38 cm)Width: 26.13 in (66.38 cm)Depth: 3.25 in (8.26 cm)
Medium:
Canvas,Oil
Period:
20th Century
Condition:
Gallery Location:
New Orleans, LA
Reference Number:
Seller: 32-13421stDibs: LU18616751562

Shop All Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell is among the most revered painters of the 20th century. His figurative and portrait paintings reflect an innocent and idyllic America described by the artist as "life as I would like it to be." For nearly 50 years, he illustrated the covers of The Saturday Evening Post in a rich and emotive style that gave distinctive personalities to his imagined characters. In total, Norman Rockwell created more than 4,000 works of art over the course of his life.

Rockwell was born in 1894 in New York City. His artistic aspirations took shape early on, and when he was 14 years old, he took classes at the New York School of the Art, which is now the Parsons School of Design. Later, he attended the Art Students League of New York, where he studied under influential painters Thomas Fogarty and George Bridgman. While still a teen, Rockwell became art director of the Boy Scouts of America publication Boys' Life.

At 21, Rockwell moved to New Rochelle, New York, and opened a studio with fellow illustrator Victor Clyde Forsythe. He created illustrations for magazines like Literary Digest and Life before his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post was published when he was 22. In 1939, after moving to Arlington, Vermont, Rockwell pivoted to making the nostalgic paintings of small-town and iconic America for which he is best known — scenes of Christmas dinner, children playing in the street and national treasures like Ruby Bridges and Rosie the Riveter.

In 1943, a speech previously given by President Franklin Roosevelt inspired Rockwell to create his most famous series, “The Four Freedoms,” which was exhibited all over the United States. The series included four pieces entitled Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.

Rockwell moved with his family to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1953, where he spent the rest of his life. My Adventures as an Illustrator — the autobiography Rockwell wrote with the help of his son, Thomas — was published in 1960. In 1963, Rockwell ceased working with The Saturday Evening Post and started drawing illustrations for Look magazine.

The world’s largest collection of original Rockwell art can be found at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. The artist was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, and he passed away peacefully in his home the following year.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of original Norman Rockwell paintings, prints, drawings and other works.

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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