The Painting, the Artist, and a Dissenting Voice
Freedom of Speech series part 3 of 4 -
In the Spring of 1942, Norman Rockwell had recently completed a commissioned work of art depicting a United States machine gunner in desperate need of ammunition. However, he knew that he wanted to do much more to use his abilities as an artist to help support efforts to inspire our nation during its most critical hour.
After much thought, he decided on the idea of painting the four freedoms (Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear) that had been presented by President Roosevelt only a year earlier. He wanted to take the ideals that FDR had articulated and put them to canvas. His hope was to aid the President’s war efforts to remind Americans of the ideals that we as a nation were then fighting to defend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lzC67TgTpM
I have included a link to a wonderful 22 minute video created by the Norman Rockwell Museum explaining the history of Rockwell’s Four Freedoms paintings.
As Rockwell began the project, he struggled through various concepts on how to capture the lofty ideal of freedom of speech. Commenting on his struggles, he stated, "It was so darn high blown sometimes I could not just get my mind around it."
He finally decided to depict an event that he had witnessed during a town meeting in Arlington, Vermont, where he lived. His neighbor, Jim Edgerton spoke during the meeting, sharing ideas that were the opposite of most others in attendance. However, as Edgerton spoke, everyone listened respectfully, and no one shouted him down, even though his dissenting views were the opposite of theirs.
Rockwell's depiction of that scene has since become my favorite painting produced by any American artist, as it represents one of our most foundational and cherished values.
With the struggles we have had in recent years as a nation to live up to this ideal, it is wise for all of us to take a moment this weekend to celebrate the 78th anniversary of this amazing work of art. At the same time, it is my hope that all of us will renew and rededicate our own individual, community, and national efforts, to live up to the ideal that it represents.