Little Girl Observing Lovers On A Train by Norman Rockwell

August 12, 1944 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Little Girl Observing Lovers On A Train, a Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published August 12, 1944. This is another favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic enduring image of the world Rockwell painted.

An alternate title for this painting is Travel Experience.

This painting was Rockwell's 223rd overall out of 322 total paintings that were published on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. Rockwell's career with the Post spanned 47 years, from his first cover illustration, Boy With Baby Carriage in 1916 to his last, Portrait of John F. Kennedy, in 1963.

This was also the first cover for The Post in 1944. In 1944, there were nine Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

The location of the original oil on canvas painting, 22 x 20 inches or 56 x 50 cm, is not known.

This painting also appears in seven Rockwell commentary books. It appears:

• on pages 325 and 341 of Norman Rockwell 332 Magazine Covers by Christopher Finch
• on page 35 of Norman Rockwell: The Underside of Innocence by Richard Halpern
• on page 116 of Norman Rockwell by Karal Ann Marling
• on page 73 of Norman Rockwell's World War II by Susan Meyer
• as illustration 106 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch
• as illustration 404 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and
• on page 157 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

One study also appears in the Norman Rockwell Catalogue on pages 157.

Additionally, three photographs taken during the staging of the painting, as well as a full page, full color republishing of the painting appear on pages 74 through 77 of Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera by Ron Schick

Pristine original copies of this magazine cover routinely sell for big bucks on eBay, when it is offered. And to think it only cost ten cents originally! And it was mint condition then, too.

Little Girl Observing Lovers On A Train

In this painting, Norman Rockwell shows us an all-to-familiar situation, a child not realizing that it is impolite to stare.

This young lady probably does not know that it is rude to invade the privacy of the returning serviceman and his girl.

We cannot tell whether her mother is aware of her indiscretion or not.

Maybe her mother is reading a book and is caught up in the story.

Either way, the two lovers are paying the young girl little heed. They are more interested in each other than in her prying eyes.

The little girl is portrayed by Yvonne Cross.

Yvonne Cross also modeled for 1947's Going And Coming and the 1949 Four Seasons calender image, Young Love.

Norman Rockwell's Little Girl Observing Lovers On A Train (1944)
(Image Only) Copyright © 1944 Saturday Evening Post & Curtis Publishing Company