The Song of Bernadette 1944

Norman Rockwell made this painting, The Song of Bernadette, with oil on canvas. It’s a work that’s heavy on the darks, almost murky, except for Bernadette herself. What strikes me is how Rockwell’s known for his super clean, almost hyperreal style, but here, he's letting the process show a bit more. Take the lower part of the canvas, the way the bottom of her skirt just kind of dissolves into the shadows. It's like he's saying, ‘I’m not going to show you everything; I’m going to let the paint do some of the work.’ Then notice the scarf around her neck, the soft pinks and whites, and how they lead your eye right up to her face, it's a beautiful subtle touch. It reminds me a little of Lucian Freud, who was also obsessed with realism but in a totally different way. Both artists, though, they’re showing you something more than just a picture, they're showing you a way of looking.