The Night Before Christmas 1923

Editor: Here we have Norman Rockwell’s "The Night Before Christmas," created in 1923, using oil paint. The image gives off such a warm and cozy feeling; it reminds me of my own childhood. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Rockwell's sentimentalism in this painting invites us to consider the constructed narratives of American identity, particularly around childhood and holidays. The seemingly innocent image of a child sleeping is, in fact, laden with social and economic implications. Who gets to experience this idealized Christmas Eve? Who is excluded from this vision of domestic bliss? Editor: That’s a pretty harsh interpretation! I mainly saw innocence. Curator: But innocence is often a constructed ideal. Consider the political climate of 1923: immigration quotas, racial tensions, and the rise of consumer culture were all shaping American society. Rockwell's image offers a comforting, perhaps nostalgic, escape from those realities, primarily catering to a specific demographic. Editor: So, you're saying that it presents an unrealistically rosy picture, ignoring social problems? Curator: Precisely! It’s about examining whose stories are being told and whose are being left out. How does this idyllic scene perpetuate certain power dynamics and leave out the experiences of those who didn't have access to it? Does this image perpetuate some social ideals and gender expectations? What happens if we place a queer body in the room? Or an unhoused one? What would it change about it? Editor: That gives me a lot to consider about how seemingly straightforward images can have complex social meanings. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. It’s these layered meanings that make art history a constantly evolving and crucial dialogue.