Farmer 1923

Norman Rockwell made this painting, Farmer, using thin washes of color, almost like he was building up the image slowly, one transparent layer at a time. I can imagine Rockwell, brush in hand, carefully observing the weathered face of the farmer, trying to capture the weariness of his eyes, the way his skin has been tanned by the sun. Look at the farmer’s hands – they’re gnarled and rough from a lifetime of hard labor. He’s holding a little bird so gently. Rockwell wants us to see the tenderness in him. That bird looks like it’s taking flight, ready to soar into the sky. It’s just a few strokes of paint, but it feels so alive, like it could fly right off the canvas. The straw hat looks like it’s been painted with a dry brush. Rockwell really knew how to create a sense of emotion with a few simple gestures. The artist takes the ordinary and makes it feel, well, extraordinary. He is in conversation with us all, isn’t he?