First Day of School, Alternate Idea c. 1964

Norman Rockwell's "First Day of School, Alternate Idea" (c. 1964) is a heartwarming portrayal of a mother and her two children entering school. The mother, dressed in a beige coat, holds the hands of her son and daughter, a young girl in a navy jacket and plaid skirt. The scene depicts a moment of shared apprehension and excitement, capturing the innocence and anxieties of first-day jitters. The iconic American artist's masterful use of light and shadow and the nostalgic setting evoke a sense of familiar ritual and childhood nostalgia.