Graduation 1926

Norman Rockwell, made this painting called Graduation, with oils on canvas, and what strikes me right away is the contrast between the young boy and the teacher. Rockwell has rendered them so realistically but has also captured a wonderful psychological depth. The boy looks like an adult, his gaze feels both present and distant, and his face is colored by a slight uncertainty. His suit is too big, but the shoes are too small! Then, you have the teacher: his expression is so theatrical that he could be on stage. I wonder, what was Rockwell thinking when he made this? Maybe he was thinking about all the rituals we have surrounding education and the transition from childhood to adulthood. Maybe he was thinking about the different kinds of roles people play in life, like teachers and students. He’s certainly got the contrast between them nailed in this picture. Rockwell’s paintings invite us to consider the ways we learn, grow, and share our knowledge with others.