Emma Loomes

Norman Rockwell
The view of life I communicate in my pictures excludes the sordid and the ugly. I paint
life as I would like it to be. Norman Rockwell stated. Norman Rockwell was a very well known
artist from the 20th century, who painted many images of the ideal American life. His paintings
varied from happy families, to people practicing their freedom, to monumental events in
American history. His paintings show the world the ideal American family and lifestyle, without
any flaws. Norman Rockwells vision of America is very idealistic because the paintings always
give an image of freedom, parental protection and close-knit families.
Norman Rockwell paints values of what he believes the American life is like, one value he
commonly conveys is the American freedom. In one painting, a man who clearly looks
underdressed compared to the others in suits, is standing up and speaking out at what appears to
be a town meeting. Everyone in the photo is listening and watching in awe. If this were to happen
at a regular town meeting, people might stare and judge. This painting shows the freedom to
speech, but does not show the consequences of what might happen when you do. Not only does
Norman Rockwell express the ideal value of American freedom, he also shows the value of the
perfect parental roles.
One value Norman Rockwell often expresses in his paintings is the ideal parents protecting
their kids, such as in the painting number three. In painting number three, two children such are
sleeping in bed while their mother nurtures and father stands beside them. This image symbolizes
the ideal image of parental roles, where the mother nurtures the kids and the father protects them.
The two children sleeping in the painting look completely peaceful and worry-less; the painting
symbolizes the mother and father protecting them from fear. While the mother protects them with
nurture, and the father is more held off. Norman Rockwell not only values the ideal parents
protecting their kids from fear, but he also values close-knit families.
Another common value which Norman Rockwell portrays often in his paintings is the ideal

value of a close-knit family. In one painting, a family with all different generations celebrate
Thanksgiving meal. The entire family sits together at a nice table and are talking. The family sits,
while the mother and father give out the turkey. The children laugh and talk with their
grandparents, while they receive this big meal. The family is getting along, and there is no sense
of fault in the image. This image portrays the typical American family as close, and happy.
Norman Rockwell values flawless very close-knit happy families.
The famous 20th century artist Norman Rockwell often conveys his idealistic values to
describe the American life throughout his paintings. One common value which he expresses in his
artwork is the American freedom. He often paints people doing practicing different freedoms;
such as people speaking out or even praying in a church. In the paintings, he never includes the
consequences or judgement you may face if you speak your mind. In other paintings he likes to
include the ideal parental roles, for example a mother and father tucking their children in bed.
Another common value he expresses is the close-knit families throughout all the generations.
Norman Rockwell shows the world a type of America that doesnt always exist and shows us that
we should value it. The American life which he shows is very idealistic and perfect.