Mistletoe and a Milky Way c. 1961

Norman Rockwell made this illustration, Mistletoe and a Milky Way, with paint on paper. Look at that ginger-haired boy and his awkward adolescent grimace – you can almost taste the chocolate bar he’s holding out as a bribe. Rockwell was a master of narrative painting, and I bet he was chuckling to himself imagining this scene. What’s going on in the girl’s head, though, as she stares into the distance? Is she immune to his offer, or just playing hard to get? She knows the power she holds. Rockwell captures this tense moment with such tenderness. The muted palette of cream and soft blues creates a nostalgic feel, like a half-remembered childhood memory. Rockwell's images of Americana capture a certain slice of life, and speak to our collective desire for connection. He was in conversation with other painters and illustrators of his time, and even with artists today. He reminds us that painting is about telling stories, evoking emotions, and holding up a mirror to ourselves.