After the Prom 1957

Norman Rockwell captured this scene, After the Prom, with paint on what looks like a pretty standard canvas. There's a deliberate kind of brushwork, especially in the clothes and the background, which suggests a real awareness of art as a process. I'm drawn to the way he's handled the light, especially on the girl's dress. You can almost feel the crispness of the fabric. And look at the counterman, his face has this almost cartoonish eagerness. It reminds you of the way Frans Hals painted in a looser style that gave you the impression of seeing something in real time. It's as if Rockwell is saying, “Hey, I know exactly what’s going on here. First love, the curiosity of the waitress, the veteran on the left.” The painting is as sweet as the milkshake they are probably about to order. Rockwell has a way of making you feel like you know these characters and the story. Art can be so many things, but I love when it’s this accessible and human.