Existing comment:
Norman Rockwell
Girl Reading the Post 1941
Oil on board
Painting for The Saturday Evening Post cover, March 1, 1941
Always aiming for the widest possible audience for his Saturday Evening Post covers, Rockwell pictures often have several layers of interest. To assure a successful cover, Rockwell grabs the viewer's attention with a trick-he matches the cover girl's face perfectly to the schoolgirl's body. By picturing a reader so engrossed in the Post, Rockwell emphasizes the interest and allure of the magazine, thus promoting its sale on newsstands. Beyond the gimmick, a story of growing up emerges in the simple scene of commuting to school. A young girl will soon leave behind her scuffed saddle shoes for polished heels and her cozy mittens for kidskin gloves. |