An extraordinarily prolific artist, Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) produced
some 4,000 paintings in his lifetime, not including a prodigious
quantity of commissioned editorial, commercial, and advertising work.
His death in 1978 was regarded the loss of a national icon, an artist
who, like no other, celebrated the American Dream.
Shunning experimentation and avant-garde techniques in favor of
effective composition and relatable subject matter, Rockwell created
wholesome, homely paintings with accessible and aspirational appeal.
Neat, quaint, and typically jovial, his subjects included classrooms,
prom scenes, and Thanksgiving feasts, while his most long-standing
projects were covers for The Saturday Evening Post magazine and
calendars and covers for the Boys' Life publication of the Boy Scouts of
America. Imbued with optimism and patriotism, the work foregrounds
classic professions such as doctor and teacher, as much as the
conservative stalwarts of military, family, and faith.
Hailed by President Gerald Ford as a "beloved part of the American
tradition," Rockwell's works reveal as much about his own talents as
they do about the story of 20th-century America. This fresh artist
introduction from TASCHEN brings together key paintings and
illustrations from his celebratory and sunny portfolio, as well as some
more unusual works tackling the underside of the United States, to
understand an integrally American artist, and the values and ideals that
shaped his success.
About the series
Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the
best-selling art book collection ever published. Each book in TASCHEN's
Basic Art series features:
a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist,
covering his or her cultural and historical importance
a concise biography
approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions
