I don't know if you are familiar with the paintings of Norman Rockwell.
His magazine covers were famous for their picturing American Life in a rather idealistic manner. They are also remarkably competent in style.
For me one of the highlights of the show was seeing side by side the famous self portrait and the Mad cover parody.
In the show were the correspondence between Mad and Rockwell offering him a commission to paint the definitive Alfred E.Neuman.
Rockwell was flattered, but declined the offer after careful consideration.
Terranova47
USA
"Looking out to Sea" is my favorite Rockwell painting
ReplyDelete"Looking out to Sea" wasn't currently on display. The Norman Rockwell Museum in MA is currently showing mostly original artwork from MAD MAGAZINE. Well worth the trip from NJ if you have the chance.
DeleteLledo once did a series of Norman Rockwell/Saturday Evening Post diecast models. More recently, Greenlight have also produced a Norman Rockwell series. I do not think I have any of these, but they might be of interest to Rockwell fans.
ReplyDeleteRockwells art defined a generation. Beautiful and technically excellent, he envisaged the american dream in all its kitschy goodness! I always confuse Rockwell with the pin up artist Gil Elvegren, who painted lustrous works of young ladies in various states of accidental undress, but in a wonderful 'soft focus' nostalgic style. It interesting to note that Rockwell is painting himself from life, but omitting his glasses! Bill
ReplyDeleteMy Rockwell fave is 'Man's first step on the Moon', painted before the Moon landing, using photo reference from a NASA mock up (as a result of which the LEM is white, not silver, grey and black, with no gold reflective foil).
ReplyDeleteIn it, the astronaut stepping onto the surface, is stretching his leg out from the landing pad with a nervous but dramatic stride, showing the boldness of the whole Apollo programme.
Great space art.