Vacation Boy riding a Goose 1934

Norman Rockwell made this painting, “Vacation Boy riding a Goose,” using oil on canvas. Rockwell’s signature style involved careful layering of paint to create realistic textures and tones. Consider the way Rockwell built up the form of the goose, feather by feather, using delicate brushwork to give a sense of depth. It is an incredible amount of work that went into it! The clothing, books, and even the boy himself, are rendered in the same detail. Rockwell aimed to portray everyday American life. The books falling from the boy’s hand are beautifully rendered too, each page distinct. They are not simple planes of color, but detailed representations of objects that would have been ubiquitous in Rockwell’s America. It is a painting that speaks to the material culture of its time. Looking at this image, it’s easy to see that Rockwell was not just a painter, but a storyteller who used materials and processes to bring narratives to life.