People then, and now, still criticize Rockwell, because he was basically anti post-modern
His paintings all displayed meaning in something, whatever the subject - family, traditions, holidays, daily life, and the United States. People were normal and average, but happy, capable and content.
Cynics and post-modern types HATE this.
And his legacy survives and thrives.
Norman Rockwell Photos pretty much embody the basic ideals of what we’d like/desire the country to return to, for ALL people here, not just whites.
Love your comments. When I was a young person studying art in college, Rockwell was presented to us as an “illustrator” not as an “Artist”.
To me he was an artist. He captured what he experienced and could see around him. He captured life being lived.
Rockwell was a Commercial Artist… he wasn't attempting to make any deep esoteric statements that only he could understand. He simply painted life as he saw it and by doing so spoke volumes.