1972
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.
Norman Rockwell, 'Jim got down on his knees', 1972, Litho, a.p., Signed, Framed
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Columbia, MO
Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978) Signed recto Norman Rockwell remains one of the most celebrated illustrators of the twentieth century, renowned for his ability to translate na...
Lithograph
Norman Rockwell, 'There warn't no harm in them', 1972, Litho, a.p., Signed
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Columbia, MO
Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978) Signed recto Norman Rockwell remains one of the most celebrated illustrators of the twentieth century, renowned for his ability to translate na...
Lithograph
Norman Rockwell, 'When I let my candle', 1972, Lithograph, a.p., Signed, Framed
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Columbia, MO
Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978) Signed recto Norman Rockwell remains one of the most celebrated illustrators of the twentieth century, renowned for his ability to translate na...
Lithograph
Norman Rockwell, 'My hands shook', 1972, Lithograph, a.p., Signed, Framed
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Columbia, MO
Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978) Signed recto Norman Rockwell remains one of the most celebrated illustrators of the twentieth century, renowned for his ability to translate na...
Lithograph
Norman Rockwell, 'Miss Mary Jane', 1972, Lithograph, a.p., Signed, Framed
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Columbia, MO
Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978) Signed recto Norman Rockwell remains one of the most celebrated illustrators of the twentieth century, renowned for his ability to translate na...
Lithograph
Norman Rockwell, 'Then Miss Watson took me in the closet and prayed', 1972
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Columbia, MO
Norman Rockwell (American, 1894–1978) Signed recto Norman Rockwell remains one of the most celebrated illustrators of the twentieth century, renowned for his ability to translate na...
Lithograph
Norman Rockwell Framed Lithograph Willie takes a step - 1971.
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
Artist: Norman Rockwell Title: Willie Takes a Step Year: 1971 Dimensions: 18 x 24 Inches. Framed Approx.: 24 x 30 Inches. Edition: 69/200 Medium: Lithograph Condition: Excellent Sig...
Lithograph
The Gift Hand Signed Lithograph, American Impressionist, Framed, 1970s
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Aventura, FL
Lithograph in colors on paper. Hand signed lower right margin by Norman Rockwell. Hand numbered AP lower left margin (there is also a main edition of 200). Image size: 23 x 17 inc...
Paper, Lithograph
"My Hands Shook" (Huckleberry Finn)
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Greenwich, CT
"My Hands Shook" is a lithograph on paper by Norman Rockwell from his 1972 Huckleberry Finn suite, printed by Atelier Mourlot, Paris. The image size is 18 x 14 inches and the framed ...
Paper, Lithograph
"Jim Got Down on his Knees" (Huckleberry Finn)
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Greenwich, CT
"Jim Got Down on His Knees" is a lithograph on paper by Norman Rockwell from his 1972 Huckleberry Finn suite, printed by Atelier Mourlot, Paris. The image size is 18 x 14 inches and ...
Paper, Lithograph
Norman Rockwell 'Ye Pipe And Bowl' 1983, signed & numbered lithograph
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
"Ye Pipe and Bowl" by Norman Rockwell Media: Lithograph on Paper Image Dimensions: 27" x 21" Year Produced: 1983 Edition Size: 200 Numbered (1-200), 60 Artist proof Edition Number: A/P (Artist Proof) Signed and Numbered in pencil by the artist Condition: In excellent Norman Rockwell was an American painter and illustrator known for his iconic depictions of American culture created for The Saturday Evening Post. With a range of favorite subjects that included nuclear families, mischievous children, and small-town life, his work has achieved an iconic status: the 1943 painting of a Thanksgiving dinner, Freedom from Want, has been reproduced and parodied countless times in contemporary culture. As an artist, Rockwell has had a lasting effect on US society beyond any singular work, with his paintings seen as indelible images that went on to inspire American directors such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and particularly Robert Zemeckis, whose 1994 film Forrest Gump recreates several of Rockwell’s paintings as scenes throughout the film. Though he enjoyed success throughout his career, Rockwell’s idyllic and sentimental outlook on American society was not necessarily embraced by art critics, though his later politically activist work garnered praise for its tackling of controversial subjects. Born on February 3, 1894 in New York, NY, he went on to study at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. Rockwell notably had a longstanding relationship with the Boy Scouts of America...
Lithograph
Norman Rockwell 'Gaily Sharing Vintage Time' 1977, signed & numbered lithograph
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Pembroke Pines, FL
"Gaily Sharing Vintage Times" From the Four Ages of Love Suite by Norman Rockwell Media: Lithograph on Paper Image Dimensions: 21" x 22" Year Produced: 1977 Edition Size: 200 Numbered (1-200), 60 Artists Proofs (1-60) Edition Number: A/P (Artist proof) Signed and Numbered in pencil by the artist Condition: In excellent condition Norman Rockwell was an American painter and illustrator known for his iconic depictions of American culture created for The Saturday Evening Post. With a range of favorite subjects that included nuclear families, mischievous children, and small-town life, his work has achieved an iconic status: the 1943 painting of a Thanksgiving dinner, Freedom from Want, has been reproduced and parodied countless times in contemporary culture. As an artist, Rockwell has had a lasting effect on US society beyond any singular work, with his paintings seen as indelible images that went on to inspire American directors such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and particularly Robert Zemeckis, whose 1994 film Forrest Gump recreates several of Rockwell’s paintings as scenes throughout the film. Though he enjoyed success throughout his career, Rockwell’s idyllic and sentimental outlook on American society was not necessarily embraced by art critics, though his later politically activist work garnered praise for its tackling of controversial subjects. Born on February 3, 1894 in New York, NY, he went on to study at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. Rockwell notably had a longstanding relationship with the Boy Scouts of America...
Lithograph
