A Real American

He captured a generation.  Norman Rockwell is a fascinating artist.  He was prolific in production, practical in application, and he painted the culture of his generation.  Last week, I had the opportunity to see his work on display at the North Carolina Museum of Art.  Most of us remember him as the painter for the Saturday Evening Post, but he wasn't just a commercial illustrator .  He captured  the innocence of childhood, the joys of Christmas, and the sweetness of young romance.  He also created statements about the power of faith, the presence of God, and the evils of prejudice. 

I went to the exhibit expecting inspiration and levity.  I got it.  But I also got a serious dose of perspective.  His portrayal of Lincoln was inspiring.  A portrait of a girl walking to school, "The Problem We all Live With," troubled me.  "Southern Justice" is a haunting and necessary picture of evil; it frightened me.   I thought about my own beautiful daughter as I studied, "Girl at Mirror." It touched me in a way that is hard to communicate as I contemplated both the beauty and pain that accompany the feminine.

Amazing art.  It made me feel ... deeply.  I am grateful for Rockwell, the beauty of his paintings, and what he showed me about the country in which I live.  He certainly captured me.