Farmer 1923

Norman Rockwell made this painting, Farmer, and it’s like, a watercolor masterclass in seeing the world. The approach to mark making is so gentle, it’s all about light and how it defines form. Look at the farmer’s face. See how the light models his skin, all these tiny washes that build up this incredible texture? The color palette is really restrained, mostly earth tones, but it’s how they’re layered that gives it so much depth. The artist is making the best of his materials and method. It’s not about showing off, it’s about understanding something profound. And then there’s the bird. It’s kind of blurred, right? It’s like a metaphor for something fleeting. You could put this next to a painting by Winslow Homer and it would be like they are in conversation across time about what it means to be human. It’s about what you bring to it. Like, art is an ongoing exchange, don’t you think?