Merrie Christmas Couple Dancing Under the Mistletoe 1928

Norman Rockwell, sometime in the mid 20th century, made this painting of a couple dancing under the mistletoe, probably with oils. The painting feels both precise and kind of slapdash. You can almost smell the spirits and mince pies! I love the way he evokes the textures of fabric, from the gossamer lace at the woman’s wrists to the heavy wool of the man’s jacket. I’m drawn to the gesture of the woman's left hand, the way she's pointing towards the mistletoe, as if to say "Look, it's fate!". There's a sense of movement in her gesture, as if she's been swept up in the moment and is trying to bring her partner along with her. Rockwell makes me think of someone like John Currin, who's also obsessed with the awkwardness and humor of everyday life. Neither one is afraid to embrace ambiguity and multiple interpretations, reminding us that art is an ongoing conversation, a constant exchange of ideas across time.