New Calendar 

Norman Rockwell made this painting, “New Calendar,” around 1956, a key moment in American cultural history. It depicts a man hanging a 1957 calendar featuring a pin-up cowgirl, while his wife looks on disapprovingly. Rockwell was famous for capturing everyday American life, but here he also hints at deeper social tensions. The pin-up girl, a symbol of idealized femininity, clashes with the more traditional image of the wife, who is portrayed as practical and domestic. The husband seems caught between these two ideals. This image reflects the changing roles of women in post-war America, as well as the rise of consumer culture. It speaks to shifting attitudes towards gender roles and sexuality. To fully understand this artwork, we need to delve into the cultural and historical context of 1950s America. Analyzing magazines, advertisements, and other visual media from the period can give us a richer picture of the social landscape that shaped Rockwell’s art.