In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, the Norman Rockwell Museum debuts American Stories: Revolution To Rockwell. This sweeping exhibition explores how artists—from the Revolutionary era to today–have made visible the evolving story of America. The exhibition places Rockwell’s iconic images in a broader national context, spotlighting illustration’s role in illuminating America’s ambitions, achievements, and struggles.
During World War II, Rockwell was inspired by the effort by FDR and others in defining and promoting American Values as a way to mobilize people in the fight against anti-democratic forces winning territory in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific. He took what he saw as abstract ideas in FDR's famous "Four Freedoms" speech and translated them into real-life contexts that regular people could relate to. These values were clearly meaningful to Rockwell in a way that lasted well beyond the end of the war, as something he passionately believed America would want to aspire to.
