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gilliam
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Freedom from Fear
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Freedom of Religion
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Freedom from Want
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Freedom of Speech
I would maintain that Rockwell’s paintings provided necessary and desirable inspiration to a populace who already knew what they were fighting for during WWII. Yes indeed, the pictures simplify–America is not, and never was, as simple and good as the world Rockwell portrays. But he was tapping into ideals that were–and still are–a huge part of America, and are realized in this country more fully than they are in most of the world, flawed human nature being what it is. During WWII virtually the entire country understood this, and the illustrations simply put these thoughts into an easily perceived–and very moving–form.
Note my personal favorite, the couple putting their children to sleep: “Freedom From Fear.” I’m a sucker for parent-child stuff anyway, and this one struck me with unusual force. The painting is so powerful, and the choice of subject so seemingly inevitable, that it takes a moment of reflection to realize that part of Rockwell’s genius was his selection of this particular scene to illustrate freedom from fear–which, after all, is an abstraction.
Anyone who thinks Rockwell is never complex should study the expression on the father’s face. The children are asleep, blissfully innocent and unaware (and that’s the point, isn’t it?). The mother is engaged in the tender act of tucking them in, and her face reflects her gentle and loving concern. But the father stands back–although not very far–as an observer. From his ever-so-slight distance, he comments on the scene, allowing his face and posture to express, along with his love, a contemplative and pensive awareness of threatening danger. This is underscored by the headline of the newspaper he holds almost casually in his left hand, which you may be able to read in the blown-up version of the picture, here. The fragment visible is:
BOMBINGS KI…
HORROR HIT…
During WWII, American citizens were well aware of the dangers to which European civilians, including children, were exposed on a daily basis, and this generic headline brought that home (almost literally) only too well. It is a powerful appeal to one of the strongest of human emotions, the desire to protect one’s children.
Read the Rest
Freedom from Fear
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
Freedom of Religion
photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7434/562/320/freedom%20from%20want.jpg
Freedom from Want
photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7434/562/320/freedom%20of%20speech.jpg
Freedom of Speech
I would maintain that Rockwell’s paintings provided necessary and desirable inspiration to a populace who already knew what they were fighting for during WWII. Yes indeed, the pictures simplify–America is not, and never was, as simple and good as the world Rockwell portrays. But he was tapping into ideals that were–and still are–a huge part of America, and are realized in this country more fully than they are in most of the world, flawed human nature being what it is. During WWII virtually the entire country understood this, and the illustrations simply put these thoughts into an easily perceived–and very moving–form.
Note my personal favorite, the couple putting their children to sleep: “Freedom From Fear.” I’m a sucker for parent-child stuff anyway, and this one struck me with unusual force. The painting is so powerful, and the choice of subject so seemingly inevitable, that it takes a moment of reflection to realize that part of Rockwell’s genius was his selection of this particular scene to illustrate freedom from fear–which, after all, is an abstraction.
Anyone who thinks Rockwell is never complex should study the expression on the father’s face. The children are asleep, blissfully innocent and unaware (and that’s the point, isn’t it?). The mother is engaged in the tender act of tucking them in, and her face reflects her gentle and loving concern. But the father stands back–although not very far–as an observer. From his ever-so-slight distance, he comments on the scene, allowing his face and posture to express, along with his love, a contemplative and pensive awareness of threatening danger. This is underscored by the headline of the newspaper he holds almost casually in his left hand, which you may be able to read in the blown-up version of the picture, here. The fragment visible is:
BOMBINGS KI…
HORROR HIT…
During WWII, American citizens were well aware of the dangers to which European civilians, including children, were exposed on a daily basis, and this generic headline brought that home (almost literally) only too well. It is a powerful appeal to one of the strongest of human emotions, the desire to protect one’s children.
Read the Rest
