Question

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Norman Rockwell had a very successful career as an illustra-
tor. Look at his painting Triple Self-Portrait (Figure 4.1). Does
the picture on the white canvas match the image in the mirror?
Do you know anything about the small pictures taped to the
right corner of the canvas? They do not look like Rockwell.
Why are they there? What has Rockwell done to the back-
ground to help you concentrate on all the objects that make
up the subject of the work?

Answer 1

See below.

Step-by-step explanation:

"Triple Self-Portrait" is an oil painting by American illustrator Norman Rockwell (1894 - 1978), commissioned for the 13th February 1960 cover of The Saturday Evening Post, showcasing the artist in a triple self-portrait that captures various stages of his creative process.

Question 1

While both the picture on the white canvas and the image in the mirror represent self-portraits of Rockwell, there are distinct differences. In the mirror image, Rockwell is portrayed wearing glasses, whereas on the white canvas, he is not. Additionally, the angle of the pipe varies between the two depictions. Notably, Rockwell employs color in the mirror image, creating a vibrant composition, while the white canvas remains absent of color.

Question 2

The small pictures taped to the right corner of the canvas are reproductions of the self-portraits of great artists Albrecht Dürer (1471 - 1528), Rembrandt (1606 - 1669), Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973), and Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890).

Question 3

The inclusion of the reproductions of the self-portraits of great artists could be interpreted as a homage to or commentary on the artistic heritage and tradition. It may be Rockwell's way of placing himself in the context of the history of portraiture and acknowledging the influence of these iconic artists on his own work.

Question 4

Rockwell employs a neutral and unobtrusive background to direct the viewer's attention to the main subject - the self-portraits and the artistic process. The lack of intricate details in the background helps viewers concentrate on the self-portraits and symbolic elements, such as the artist's expressions, tools, and other additional meaningful aspects intentionally incorporated into the work.