"Norman Rockwell: My Adventures as an Illustrator" Signed First Edition, 1960

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"Norman Rockwell: My Adventures as an Illustrator" Signed First Edition, 1960

About the Item

Rockwell, Norman. Norman Rockwell: My Adventures as an Illustrator. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Co., 1960. First edition, signed by Rockwell. In original dust jacket and boards. Presented in new custom archival green cloth slipcase. Presented is a signed first edition of Norman Rockwell’s memoirs titled, Norman Rockwell: My Adventures as an Illustrator. Rockwell signed the first free endpage in blue ink reading, “Sincerely Norman Rockwell.” The book is offered in its original dust jacket depicting Rockwell surrounded by some of his most famous illustrations. The book is presented in a custom-made archival green cloth slipcase. This autobiography tells the story of Rockwell’s career in his own words. Beginning with the struggle to become an artist, the book takes the reader through the successes and failures of the most recognized American artist. It includes tales of conquering his self doubt and anecdotes about his colleagues, art models, and friends. Norman Rockwell is one of the most famous American artists to date. Throughout his career he was an author, painter, and illustrator known for reflecting American small town culture. His most famous works included covers for the Saturday Evening Post, totaling 322 illustrations for the publisher. Rockwell said, “Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed.” Throughout his career, Rockwell strove to share the small moments of grace, community, and perseverance during economic depravity, war, and civil unrest. During WWII, Rockwell painted four works collectively titled the “Four Freedoms.” They toured across the U.S. raising more than $130,000 for the war effort and gained exceptional popularity. In the last 10 years of his life, Rockwell left the Saturday Evening Post for another magazine, Look. While illustrating for Look, Rockwell’s work focused more on social issues such as the Vietnam war, poverty, and race. In 1977, one year before his death, Norman Rockwell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom honoring him and his art that had “become part of the beloved American tradition.” Rockwell’s nearly 60 year career illustrated both the “heartwarming and heart-wrenching sides of American life in the 20th century.” CONDITION: Overall very good condition. Published by Doubleday and Co in 1960. Signed by Rockwell in dark blue ink on the second free end paper. Signature is dark and legible. Internally, the pages are clean and bright. The original dust jacket has some wear and minor creasing on the spine. Otherwise, no notable damage. The book is now housed in an archival custom-built slipcase in matching green cloth, with an inlaid photo of Rockwell in his studio.

Creator:
Norman Rockwell (Author)
Dimensions:
Height: 8.88 in (22.56 cm)Width: 6.63 in (16.85 cm)Depth: 2.13 in (5.42 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Paper
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1960
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Overall very good condition. Signed by Rockwell in dark blue ink on the second free end paper. Signature is dark and legible. Internally, the pages are clean and bright. The original dust jacket has some wear and minor creasing on the spine.
Seller Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Reference Number:
Seller: BK07151stDibs: LU909720698942

Shop All Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell is among the most revered painters of the 20th century. His figurative and portrait paintings reflect an innocent and idyllic America described by the artist as "life as I would like it to be." For nearly 50 years, he illustrated the covers of The Saturday Evening Post in a rich and emotive style that gave distinctive personalities to his imagined characters. In total, Norman Rockwell created more than 4,000 works of art over the course of his life.

Rockwell was born in 1894 in New York City. His artistic aspirations took shape early on, and when he was 14 years old, he took classes at the New York School of the Art, which is now the Parsons School of Design. Later, he attended the Art Students League of New York, where he studied under influential painters Thomas Fogarty and George Bridgman. While still a teen, Rockwell became art director of the Boy Scouts of America publication Boys' Life.

At 21, Rockwell moved to New Rochelle, New York, and opened a studio with fellow illustrator Victor Clyde Forsythe. He created illustrations for magazines like Literary Digest and Life before his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post was published when he was 22. In 1939, after moving to Arlington, Vermont, Rockwell pivoted to making the nostalgic paintings of small-town and iconic America for which he is best known — scenes of Christmas dinner, children playing in the street and national treasures like Ruby Bridges and Rosie the Riveter.

In 1943, a speech previously given by President Franklin Roosevelt inspired Rockwell to create his most famous series, “The Four Freedoms,” which was exhibited all over the United States. The series included four pieces entitled Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Worship, Freedom from Want and Freedom from Fear.

Rockwell moved with his family to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1953, where he spent the rest of his life. My Adventures as an Illustrator — the autobiography Rockwell wrote with the help of his son, Thomas — was published in 1960. In 1963, Rockwell ceased working with The Saturday Evening Post and started drawing illustrations for Look magazine.

The world’s largest collection of original Rockwell art can be found at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge. The artist was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977, and he passed away peacefully in his home the following year.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of original Norman Rockwell paintings, prints, drawings and other works.