Boy Hiding Under Couch Sneezing 1921

Norman Rockwell made this painting, Boy Hiding Under Couch Sneezing, with oil. Isn't it funny how he builds this scene with such a tight palette? The muted whites and browns feel so soft, like a memory. The paint is smooth, almost creamy, really letting the forms emerge gently. Look at the way he handles the boy's face, that sneeze is so real it's almost sculptural. And then there's the texture of that red cloth, all ornate and slightly exotic. The way he contrasts that detail with the simple, almost cartoonish rendering of the figures is really unique. That little dragon emblem is so evocative. Rockwell always had a way of capturing these perfect little moments. It reminds me a bit of Edward Hopper, the way they both find such poetry in the everyday. It is like they are always embracing the humor in the mundane.