1.13.2012

Saturday, January 13, 1962: 'The Connoisseur'

Norman Rockwell's illustration for the cover of The Saturday Evening Post, unlike many of his other works, is open to interpretation; namely, "What is the man thinking?" or "What is Rockwell saying about modern art?" The abstract painting is done in the style of Jackson Pollock.

From the biography "Norman Rockwell: A Life": "The Pollock imitation is considered by most experts to be competently executed; certainly the intent is to represent the art respectfully, not to mock it. ... It is impossible to appreciate the significance of Rockwell's story on this January cover, however, without taking seriously the rueful statements he made to others about his place in the art world. ... The illustrator had swallowed his unhappiness at being taken out of the category of 'artist' long ago ... "

* Norman Rockwell Museum (click on "Rockwell" and then "Timeline" for more about the cover): @
* Earlier post on a Rockwell work (1964's "The Problem We All Live With," about school integration): @

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