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The Four Freedoms by Norman Rockwell
1.
Freedom of Speech
2.
Freedom to Worship
3.
Freedom from Want
4.
Freedom from Fear The Four Freedoms or Four Essential
Human Freedoms is a series of oil paintings produced in 1943 by Norman
Rockwell. The paintings are approximately equal in dimension with
measurements of 45.75 inches (116.2 cm) × 35.5 inches (90 cm). The
series, now in the Norman Rockwell Museum, was made for reproduction
in The Saturday Evening Post over the course of four consecutive weeks
in 1943 alongside essays by prominent thinkers of the day. Later they
were the highlight of a touring exhibition sponsored by the Saturday
Evening Post and the United States Department of the Treasury. The
touring exhibition and accompanying sales drives raised over US$132
million in the sale of war bonds.
The Four Freedoms theme was derived from the 1941 State of the Union
Address by United States President Franklin Roosevelt delivered to the
77th United States Congress on January 6, 1941. During the speech he
identified four essential human rights that should be universally
protected and should serve as a reminder of our motivation for
fighting. The theme was incorporated into the Atlantic Charter, and it
became part of the charter of the United Nations. Roosevelt's message
was as follows: "In the future days which we seek to make secure, we
look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms."
This series is considered a cornerstone of a retrospective of the
career of Rockwell, who was the most widely known contemporary
commercial artist of the mid 20th century, but who failed to achieve
critical acclaim commensurate with his popularity. These are perhaps
Rockwell's most well-known works of art, and they were the most widely
distributed paintings ever produced by some accounts. At one time they
were commonly displayed in post offices, schools, clubs, railroad
stations, and a variety of public and semi-public buildings. Critical
review of these images, like most of Rockwell's work, has not been
entirely positive. Rockwell's idyllic and nostalgic approach to
regionalism made him a popular illustrator but a lightly regarded fine
artist during his lifetime. These paintings generally are viewed with
this sentiment. However, he has created a niche in the enduring social
fabric with the Freedom from Want image which is emblematic of what is
now known as the "Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving."
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