Parade 1924

Norman Rockwell painted this piece, Parade, with oil on canvas. The color palette is very controlled, built around warm reds and browns, but he also leaves areas of the canvas bare, so that the light, creamy ground shines through, adding to the image's glow.   It's funny to notice how the artist's touch is absent in many areas here. It's almost as if he’s obscuring his own process. He really wants you to see the image, the scene, not the way it was made. But in certain areas, like the children's boots, you can see the way the paint is built up layer by layer, giving them real heft.   For me, Rockwell shares something with artists like Pieter Bruegel or even someone like David Hockney. He invites the viewer in to get lost in the narrative and the composition, and these offer ways to reflect on culture and society. His paintings hold space for multiple interpretations, so have fun finding your own!