Cobbler Studying Doll's Shoe 1921

Norman Rockwell, in 1921, made this painting, of a cobbler studying a doll’s shoe. Look at how he applied the oil paint, how it sits on the canvas, how the colors are layered, one over the other! I can imagine him, trying to capture the right light, the perfect expression on the cobbler's face. He really wants to show us what happens when someone thinks very hard about the making of a little shoe. The cobbler is holding the shoe like it’s the most precious thing in the world. It is a window into his skill, his patience. I wonder if he feels a huge responsibility toward this little girl standing next to him? Painters like Rockwell remind me that art isn’t just about big statements, it's also about the small details. What’s more human than caring about the smallest things in life? He teaches us to pay attention.