logo for best-norman-rockwell-art.com

Charwomen In Theatre by Norman Rockwell

Charwomen In Theatre by Norman Rockwell
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
   

Norman Rockwell Signature


April 6, 1946 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post


Charwomen In Theatre, a Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published April 6, 1946. This is another favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic enduring image of the world Rockwell painted.

An alternate title for this painting is just Charwomen.

This painting was Rockwell's 238th 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 second cover for The Post in 1946. In 1946, there were seven Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

The original oil on canvas painting, 42.5 x 33 inches or 108 x 84 cm, is part of a private collection.

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

  • on page 46 of The Norman Rockwell Album
  • on pages 327 and 355 of Norman Rockwell 332 Magazine Covers by Christopher Finch
  • on pages 54, 57 and 191 of Norman Rockwell: Illustrator by Arthur L. Guptill
  • on page 92 of Norman Rockwell: A Sixty Year Retrospective by Thomas Buechner
  • on page 10 of Norman Rockwell: Pictures for the American People by Maureen Hart Hennessey and Anne Knutson
  • on page 55 of Norman Rockwell: America's Most Beloved Painter by Karal Ann Marling
  • as illustration 422 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and
  • on page 166 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

One study also appears in the Norman Rockwell Catalogue on pages 166 and 167.

One charcoal on paper study also appeared in the Smithsonian's American Art Museum in 2010. It was part of Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell fron the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg .

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.




Charwomen In Theatre

Giclee Prints on Archival Paper:
From Art.com


Available as Oil on Canvas:
Oil on Canvas Reproduction

This classic Norman Rockwell image is yet another study in hume psychology.

This painting is recognized, like most of Rockwell's work, to be his own creation from start to finish. We do not know his inspiration for this composition, yet I beleive he simply noticed a discarded playbill on a chair when leaving a theatre or movie house and his fertile imagination took over from there.

For starters, a charwoman is a woman hired to do cleaning or similar work, usually in a large building.

The theatre is surely large enough for these women to be called charwomen.

Both are older ladies and both are probably long-time employees of the theatre. People in the 1940's did not generally bounce from job to job. In 1946, with the influx of troops returning home, these ladies were probably glad to have a job to do.

I cannot make out the name of the production on the playbill or the name or location of the theatre.

I see three copies of the playbill left on surrounding chairs, so the majority of patrons kept their playbill and took it home. Whether the patrons kept it as a keepsake of a night of wonderful memories or disposed of it in their own trash to spare its cleanup is not known or inferred.

I found a cute video of a recreation of the events leading up to this scene on Youtube. I have included it for your enjoyment.


Pause the video at the final scene and see if they got it right.


The April 6, 1946 Saturday Evening Post cover by Norman Rockwell entitled Charwomen In Theatre

Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy

Norman Rockwell's Charwomen In Theatre (1946)
(Image Only) Copyright © 1946 Saturday Evening Post & Curtis Publishing Company



Remember to check back often.

Do You Have A Great Story, Opinion Or Contribution About Charwomen in Theatre?

Do you have a personal story about this painting? Do you know the model personally? Do you have a different take on the commentary?

Please share!


Norman Rockwell Quotes:


I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to.

No man with a conscience can just bat out illustrations. He's got to put all his talent and feeling into them!

Some people have been kind enough to call me a fine artist. I've always called myself an illustrator. I'm not sure what the difference is. All I know is that whatever type of work I do, I try to give it my very best. Art has been my life.

Right from the beginning, I always strived to capture everything I saw as completely as possible.

The secret to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So, you see, they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back.

I can take a lot of pats on the back. I love it when I get admiring letters from people. And, of course, I'd love it if the critics would notice me, too.

You must first spend some time getting your model to relax. Then you'll get a natural expression.

More at BrainyQuote.

Rockwell Favorites

Doctor and the Doll
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Doctor and the Doll
Santa at His Desk
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Santa at His Desk
Before the Shot
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Before the Shot
Game Called Because of Rain
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Game Called Because of Rain (Three Umpires)
Freedom of Speech
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Freedom of Speech
Freedom from Want
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Freedom from Want
No Swimming
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
No Swimming
The Runaway
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
The Runaway
Girl at the Mirror
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Girl at the Mirror
Tattoo Artist
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Tattoo Artist
Puppy Love
Buy it from Art.com - Click to Buy
Puppy Love
(Little Spooners)

Norman Rockwell Christmas and Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving Galleries are open.

Norman Rockwell's painting, A Drum for Tommy or Santa with Drum, appeared on the cover of The Country Gentleman on 12/17/1921
Norman Rockwell Santa Claus
Gallery is open!







Copyright © Best Norman Rockwell Art.com.
Images are copyrighted by their respective copyright holders.
Graphic Files Protected by Digimarc.
Contact us for details about using our articles on your website.
The only requirements are an acknowledgement and a link.
Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
Home | Donate | About | Contact | FAQ | Share | Search | Survey | Wanted
Sitemap | Sitemap, 2 | Sitemap, 3 | Sitemap, 4 | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
My Business "Secret Weapon"