Today is Norman Rockwell’s birthday (1894-1978). His works are iconic. They show the American culture of his times. This is a massive book 12″ by 17″! It is “Norman Rockwell Artist and Illustrator” published 1970. There are some beautiful full page prints, along with hundreds of other illustrations (614 with 111 in color). There are also several fold out pictures that are 17 ” by 30″ (!) Certainly one of my largest books; and one of the most beautiful.
“Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed. My fundamental purpose is to interpret the typical American. I am a story teller.” Norman Rockwell.
This book is what nostalgia is. Or at least how we want to remember the past. Norman Rockwell said he never drew “sordid or ugly.” He painted life “as he would like it to be.” But he was truthful during tumultuous times with some candid paintings. His paintings often hit home unpleasant truths. As we go through this enlightening book, it is amazing how many of these paintings are already locked into our brains. It is certainly a ‘bring back a moment’ time when we flip through them.
Today is also national “Take a Child to the Library” day. Do that! I am having grandkids over for dinner tonight. We will turn off electronics and spend a few moments each holding a book.
Librarytomes 