Salesman In Swimming Hole by Norman Rockwell

August 11, 1945 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

Salesman In Swimming Hole, a Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published August 11, 1945. This is another favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic enduring image of the world Rockwell painted.

An alternate title for this painting is simply Swimming Hole.

This painting was Rockwell's 230th 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 fourth cover for The Post in 1945. In 1945, there were ten Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

The original oil on canvas painting is part of a private collection.

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

• on pages 326 and 348 of Norman Rockwell 332 Magazine Covers by Christopher Finch
• on page 47 of The Norman Rockwell Album
• on page 53 of Norman Rockwell: America's Most Beloved Painter by Karal Ann Marling
• as illustration 174 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch
• as illustration 411 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and
• on page 160 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

One study also appears in the Norman Rockwell Catalogue on pages 161.

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.

Salesman In Swimming Hole

In this painting, Norman Rockwell gives us a glimpse into what people do to cool off in the summer.

Here we see a man swimming in a swimming hole. We can tell he is a salesman because of the emblem on the door of his car.

This salesman is probably far from home. He has been driving in his car on these dusty country roads for some time today. Suddenly he sees an oasis.

He stops his car at the bridge over this creek and gets out.

With little or no hesitation, he quickly takes off his suit, bowtie, shirt and even undergarments. He hangs all his clothes up on the side of the bridge for safe keeping.

He lays his glasses on a newspaper.

Now, wearing only his shoes and socks, he approaches the edge of the water. He removes his shoes and steps into the water.

Lastly he sets his cigar on top of one of his shoes.

The creek is cold and deep. Just a few steps in and his over his head. His hair is wet and his mouth is smiling.

Was cooling off worth all this effort? You bet!

Norman Rockwell's Salesman In Swimming Hole (1945)
(Image Only) Copyright © 1945 Saturday Evening Post & Curtis Publishing Company