American Mirror

Just finished "American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell" by Deborah Solomon. An enjoyable read. Rockwell was a bit of an odd duck, as Solomon makes clear, but also an incredibly hard-working artist- meticulous, inventive, and deceptively witty.

"My Studios Burns," 1941- I've heard Rockwell described as a cartoonist-in-oil. Here's an actual cartoon, beautifully hand-lettered, describing a fire at his studio.

Marriage License, 1955- such a wonderful feel for surfaces and textures- the peeling wallpaper, the spitoon, the cast iron stove and that gorgeous yellow dress. I love this one.

Bow tie, love beads: Rockwell worked well into his 70s; in 1968 he painted this album cover art for "The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper."