First Signs Of Spring by Norman Rockwell

March 22, 1947 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post

First Signs Of Spring, a Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post published March 22, 1947. This is another favorite of Rockwell collectors, a classic enduring image of the world Rockwell painted.

Alternate titles are Gardener with Hoe, First Flower and First Crocus.

This painting was Rockwell's 245th 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 1947. In 1947, there were seven Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post covers published.

The original oil on canvas painting, 22 x 17 inches or 56 x 43 cm, is part of a private collection.

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

• on pages 363 and 371 of Norman Rockwell 332 Magazine Covers by Christopher Finch,
• as illustration 428 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and
• on page 174 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

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.

First Signs Of Spring

In this painting, Norman Rockwell shows us what we all want to see after a hard winter.

Rockwell was born and raised in New York. Then he moved to Arlington, Vermont and then to Stockbridge, Massachussetts.

So he knew about hard winters... and the first days of spring.

These crocus bulbs are usually the first flowers to blossom. They generally burst forth from the ground as soon as it thaws enough to allow them to stick their heads up.

So crocus blooms are usually the first sign that things are warming up.

These bulbs depicted were planted by this man not terribly long ago, probably in the fall. Notice the plant marker denoting where they were planted is still in place.

Rockwell painted this painting during the coldest part of the Vermont winter. No live crocuses could be found for a model. Rockwell persisted searching until a New York City shopkeeper who specialized in out of season flowers located the desired flowers.

The crocuses were delivered to Rockwell's studio in the dead of winter. The price for the live crocuses was Fifteen dollars and fifty cents ($15.50). That sounds reasonable enough until you consider that adjusting for inflation, that is almost $150 in 2010 buying power. Ouch! What price, authenticity?

The man in the picture has ventured outside. His task is to plant the tree that occupies the left margin of the painting. He has not even unwrapped that tree.

He will wisely dig the hole before he unwraps it.

One thing I do not understand. This man is still wearing a sweater, white shirt, khaki pants, bowtie and jacket. Is he not concerned that he will get his good clothes dirty while he is working in the garden? Does he have no old clothes that he is comfortable getting down in the dirt while wearing?

Did everybody dress up to play in the dirt in 1947?

Norman Rockwell's First Signs Of Spring (1947)
(Image Only) Copyright © 1947 Saturday Evening Post & Curtis Publishing Company