Despite the hostel reception to my past praise of Norman Rockwell, I wanted to share with you a painting that exemplifies Rockwells skill and social insight. "War News" was completed in 1945, but never published. Critics often dismiss Rockwell paintings as "Simplified unmercifully and reassured inappropriately", but I see him as a master that captured a great era with even greater skill, perhaps his works leaned on the idealistic side, but I think that makes it even more important and timeless, in this age of cynicism and elitism (especially within the art world, excuse my generalization). This piece is wonderfully constructed and composed. Through expert characterization Rockwell captured an apprehension and severe concern in the figures. I appreciate this work even more so as an animator, i almost see them as actors within a story. As far as content ... it's dead on. Unfortunately, we've all experienced that severe concern to war news.
In this same year Rockwell painted other great pieces like "Thanksgiving: Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes" and "The Homecoming". It's interesting to point out that Rockwells "Four Freedoms" was viewed by 1.2 million people, and raised over 135 million dollars in war bonds. If this isn't an example of how art is an integral part of the world, I don't know what is. It's also interesting that the humble master felt he "held a low rung" on the ladder of fine art. He considered Pablo Picasso the greatest, going so far as to add a bit of cubism into several of his paintings. He also held Mondrian in the highest regard.
“May God deliver us from the worst of all sins!: Man's own religious hypocritical self-righteousness and evil knowledge and greed for power through every form of cruelty, including war!” -Norman Rockwell
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
A Favorite Rockwell.."War News"..
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4 comments:
That's an excellent quote.
No apologies for Rockwell. He's great.
Many so-called "artistes" should wish they could do work which is as good as the reviled just-an-illustrator , N. Rockwell.
(I've found that usually these guys who deride Rockwell have never actually seen his work up-close-and-personal. I saw the comment in the other post about how "Rockwell was good at knowing what colors would reproduce well" or some such damning-with-faint-praise ... Yes, he knew what colors would reproduce well, but he also knew Color , period. Look at Rockwell's originals. They are even better than the reproductions. )
It is claimed that Rockwell "traced everything" .
When Rockwell said: "I can't draw, I just trace everything from photos " (if he ever actually said any such thing) he was being self-deprecating .
LOL, as the internets say, LOL. Great post, Patrick!
As I've said, I respect Rockwell a lot. I just don't agree with your critique of his work.
And Andy, between you and me at least one of us has had a personal guided tour of the Rockwell Museum by one of its curators and have "actually seen his work up-close-and-personal". Maybe both of us have!
Does this give that person any greater insight into Rockwell's work? Yes, I think so. Does it give that person (or the other) the right to disagree by use of ad hominem denunciations of the other's position?
His originals are by no means better than the reproduction. That's absurd. Plenty are full of paste-ups, butt cuts and visible paint overs. His brushwork is very very weak and he worked at a huge scale intentionally, so he wouldn't have to concern himself with the details of painting.
There's a lot to like in his work. I disagree with Patrick's reasons for lionizing him. I don't think he was good at many of thing Pat claims, but I think he was great at some of them.
I also think the tin-foil-hatted fear of "the art world" is ridiculous. Rockwell is about as establishment art world as a dead illustrator can get. The only guys of his generation with more academic cred are Ben Shahn and Steinberg.
There's also a cover (Sat. Evening Post?)that shows someone in an art gallery viewing a Jackson Pollock painting...and it's clear that Rockwell liked it, by its meticulous depiction.
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